Arsenal secured their place in the UEFA Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, a result built on defensive discipline and a decisive home performance against the La Liga side.
Speaking on CBS Sports after the match, Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry reserved his highest praise for Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who he credited with answering the questions that had surrounded him since his move to North London.
“If I take the example of Gyokeres, the jury was out on him,” Henry said. “It’s not a bad thing. Embrace it. Try to prove people wrong. Tonight he did. Not only tonight, but in the last month, I’ll also give him his credit. He is running, he looks solid and a bit more like a number nine that you can be scared of.”
Gyokeres, 27, joined Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer amid considerable expectation. The early weeks of his Premier League career proved difficult, with the physical demands of English football prompting a wave of criticism from pundits and supporters alike. Those early-season doubts, however, appear to have been firmly put to rest.
The Swedish international has now accumulated 21 goals across all competitions this season. His recent form has been particularly sharp — he netted a brace against Fulham last weekend — suggesting the striker has settled into life at the Emirates and found the consistency his detractors had questioned.
Henry’s assessment reflects a broader shift in opinion around Gyokeres, whose adaptation period drew comparisons to other high-profile strikers who required time to adjust after joining the Premier League. His role in Arsenal’s run to the Champions League final will likely serve as the clearest evidence yet that the move from Sporting CP has paid off.
Arsenal’s victory over Atletico Madrid marks a significant milestone for the club, which has not appeared in a Champions League final since the competition’s modern format was established. The Gunners will now await the outcome of the other semi-final to learn their opponents for the showpiece occasion.
