Victor Gyokeres transfer could upset Arsenal star who destroyed Gunners gym numbers

The hunt for the Arsenal No.9 has taken on epic proportions, but the end may be in sight.

Tuesday night brought reports that the Gunners are finally closing in on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, the Sporting Lisbon frontman whose 54 goals in 52 games last season shine out like a beacon and will have been one of the deciding factors when it came to choosing him over RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.

Should the transfer be completed then Gyokeres will of course be an fine addition to the Gunners' squad, and a player who they will be able to turn to in just the type of matches in which they missed a No.9 last season.

But the move could also come to the detriment of Kai Havertz, and it shouldn't be forgotten just what an impact he has had on the Gunners.

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The German had scored 15 goals last season by the time of his hamstring injury at the Gunners' winter break in Dubai in February. That was supposed to rule him out for the rest of the season, but it didn't.

Havertz was able to return for Arsenal's final two matches of the campaign, getting 14 minutes off the bench against Newcastle and then 19 on the final day of the campaign at Southampton. And there was a different look to him in those appearances.

"There's been a transformation in his body," said Mikel Arteta prior to the Newcastle game. "The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn't had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it.

"To be fair, the staff and how they have explained the opportunity that is within with his physique to go to a different level and the things that he can improve and it can even help him mentally as well as being more effective as a player.

"He got on board with that, he worked hard, you can see his presence and I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last 10 years. Power, acceleration, muscle mass, the way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility, he's been incredible."

When Havertz appeared from the bench in that Newcastle clash the changed, bulked up appearance of his body was clear to see, and when you take all of the other gifts he already has in his game and add a greater physicality then the results could end up being quite remarkable.

This isn't to say that Arsenal shouldn't sign Gyokeres or a Gyokeres type. Seasons are long and varied and it is vital to have different types of forwards for different challenges, but splashing the cash on a No.9 will leave Arteta with a question over just what to do with Havertz.

The German will still be more than useful in the vast majority of Arsenal matches, and his ability to find space and create chances for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli - or, perhaps more pertinently, an upgrade on the Brazilian - will be key, especially in games against the bigger sides.

A fully fit, firing and - by the looks of him - fighting Havertz will still offer Arsenal plenty in the new campaign, regardless of who comes in, and if it is Gyokeres then the Swede should be prepared for an intimidating battle.

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