Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting and Arteta said the Swedish striker is ‘very excited’ to face his former team.
Gyokeres arrives into the game in good form. The 27-year-old has scored five goals in his last three games for club and country, after a starring role for Sweden during the international break.
He scored a hat-trick in his country’s play-off semi-final against Ukraine, before his late winner against Poland sealed Sweden’s place at the 2026 World Cup.
Arteta said Gyokeres is full of confidence and backed the forward to ‘create more moments’ for Arsenal as the North Londoners chase trophies this season.
“Those are experiences that you put in your veins, I would say. It doesn’t get much better than putting your country into a World Cup with a goal that you scored.
“That’s still there and that’s going to be there for the rest of his career, like all the moments that he had here, the moments that he’s creating for us. That’s the story that he’s creating and hopefully tomorrow he’s going to show another very good side of him.”
