Viktor Gyokeres called 'poison' as concerns raised about Arsenal target by old team-mates

Viktor Gyokeres has transformed from Brighton & Hove Albion misfit into a world-class forward are desperate to sign.

The 26-year-old has become one of the most formidable strikers in the game over the past couple of years. After getting limited chances at Brighton and during a loan spell at Swansea City, Gyokeres found his stride at Coventry City.

Sporting CP saw potential in the towering Swede and snapped him up from Coventry for a hefty £20million fee. Fast forward two years,, who are reportedly ready to offer him a lucrative £7million-a-year deal post-tax.

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Former colleagues and adversaries have shared their insights with . Naby Sarr, the ex-Huddersfield and Reading centre-back who has come up against Gyokeres several times, said: "I dealt with two Gyokeres'. The first was already tough and strong, despite a lot of shortcomings.

"It was easy to stop him, his game was very readable. In the end, it was no longer the same story. He became ultra-complete, one of the best players I've faced. Speed, power, efficiency, technical accuracy... he worked on all these aspects.

"What sets him apart from the others is that he's not lazy. His mindset has always been to tell himself that no ball is unplayable. Even if he seems unexploitable and is five meters behind, he'll go for it. He's poison."

Other players who once shared a dressing room with the Scandinavian talent remember a player who epitomised friendliness, humility, and industriousness, but whose technical prowess often seemed hamstrung. Among them was Gaetan Bong, formerly of Brighton, who witnessed Gyokeres' earlier struggles to hit the target.

Bong, who hung up his boots in 2022, confessed his astonishment at Gyokeres' rise, saying: "I remember seeing this unassuming guy arrive in the dressing room. It was surprising to see him there because Brighton were used to recruiting players in his position who were quick and easy on the ball.

"He already had an imposing physique, but how can I put it... Technically and in his finishing, it was... mediocre. He was far from the level of Glenn Murray, for example, who was our starting No.9.

"That day, we were practicing free kicks and I saw the discreet Viktor coming into my zone. I was often assigned the more robust players to challenge me, so I was unfazed and thought to myself that I would attempt to rattle him a bit, just as a way of saying hello.

"I grabbed his arm, I tried to move it, and there... wow! I saw that he was resisting. A wall! He had a lot of strength. I said to myself: 'OK, he's going to have to work hard, but at least he has a response, he's not there to be walked all over, and in duels he has what it takes.' It was a first good point."

Reflecting on the same issues, Gyokeres' former Coventry team-mate Maxime Biamou observed weaknesses which at the time didn't hint at the player's future success. Biamou added: "There was no indication that he was going to explode one day."

Ironically, ex-Coventry midfielder Wesley Jobello highlighted what used to be considered Gyokeres' Achilles' heel – his finishing. Jobello said: "In matches, he had this way of charging head first, without asking any questions.

"He tried a lot and didn't care if he made a mistake. Right foot, left foot, he sent some serious concrete blocks, but it wasn't often on target."

Standing out this season, Gyokeres has netted an astonishing 52 goals with an additional 13 assists across 50 games in all competitions. With Arsenal reportedly desperate to sign a striker, they're amongst the suitors keen on Gyokeres, while whispers of a potential reunion between the striker and former boss Ruben Amorim at Manchester United continue.

One thing is clear: Gyokeres has become a terror for opposing defences and plans to keep up the pressure regardless of which team's colours he dons.