SETTABLOID

Viktor Gyokeres has evolved into a formidable goalscorer. With an impressive tally of 78 goals in all competitions for Sporting Lisbon since his move to Portugal in July 2023, he is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in Europe this summer with both Arsenal and Chelsea linked.

However, his journey to stardom wasn’t overnight. His transformation can be traced back to his two-and-a-half-year stint with Championship side Coventry City.

“Adi Viveash, the first team coach and assistant manager at the time, initially had doubts about Gyokeres’ potential. However, he credited Mark Robins, Coventry’s manager at the time, for firmly believing that Gyokeres was a top player in the making”.

After a modest start with only five goals in a six-month loan at Coventry, the player’s fortunes took a sharp turn as he netted 40 goals over the following two seasons post his permanent signing. Turner sheds light on the transformation: “He came back [in the summer] stronger, hungrier, fitter and more determined than ever, and he was just so single-minded and focused.

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak suffered a potential injury after helping beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the Sweden international, with the rumours intensifying in recent weeks with the January transfer window now opening. Arsenal were first credited with an interest in signing Isak last summer as the club were tipped to add a striker to their squad.

In the end, Mikel Arteta did not bring a new centre-forward to his squad, but the rumours have resurfaced since the New Year. Reports have claimed that Newcastle value Isak at around £150million, which has caused doubt over the Gunners’ chances of getting a deal over the line, if the interest turns out to be genuine.

Tuesday night saw Arsenal go up against Isak and Newcastle, with the Gunners on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat in the semi-final first leg of the Carabao Cup. Isak opened the scoring for the visitors at the Emirates Stadium, with Anthony Gordon also on the score sheet.

However, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe later admitted there was concern around Isak’s fitness after the striker was substituted just after the hour mark.

“First half he [Isak] was electric, I thought he played really well,” Howe told Chronicle Live. “He scored but I just thought his general game was in a really good place.

It remains to be seen if Isak’s injury will leave him on the sidelines in the days or weeks ahead. Arsenal will take on Newcastle in the second leg at St James’ Park on February 5, which will be their first game after the transfer window closes.

Should Isak have suffered an injury it may also affect Arsenal’s decision-making when it comes to choosing whether or not to try and sign the striker before the deadline. Isak has scored 15 goals in all competitions for Newcastle this season, including 13 in the Premier League.

The player in question is Myles Lewis-Skelly, who played well against Newcastle and showcased his talent and composure.

There were several instances when the 18-year-old came under serious pressure, the kind that would’ve seen Newcastle get a shot in had he lost the ball.

However, Lewis-Skelly was able to get out of those hairy situations, turning one into an Arsenal free kick and another into an incisive attack.

And though there was one instance where he gave the ball away to Isak in a dangerous position, it was a rare error in a display the kind of which you’d see from a star in his prime.

Lewis-Skelly’s ball control is outstanding and he’s incredibly brave on the ball, making him a huge asset for Arsenal at such a young age.

And as he continues to develop as a player, it’ll be exciting to see just how much better he can become.

Welcome to the latest Arsenal transfer blog, brought to you by football.london, as we keep you up to date on the latest rumours from the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners were dealt a major blow on Tuesday night as they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Arsenal will now have to overturn a two-goal deficit when they travel to St James’ Park for the second leg next month.

On the transfer front, Arsenal are being linked with several potential new signings as the January transfer window rolls on. Newcastle striker Alexander Isak continues to be linked with a move to North London, with reports suggesting that the Sweden international is valued at around £150million.

There have also been reports that Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic could be a target for the Gunners. Arsenal have until February 3 to complete their transfer business, and it remains to be seen if any new additions get made to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal are busy preparing for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle United as they seek a first major trophy since 2020.

The Gunners were left frustrated last time out in their 1-1 draw at Brighton in the Premier League. Had Arsenal come away from the AMEX Stadium with all three points, the gap would have only been four points to Liverpool at the top of the table.

The games are coming thick and fast for Mikel Arteta’s side, but attention will also be on the January transfer window. So far, there has been more business done with players leaving the club.

However, the Gunners continue to need reinforcements in attack following Bukayo Saka’s injury. Among the names being linked are Newcastle star Alexander Isak and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic.

Other players being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium are Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard and Bryan Mbeumo.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would like to sign Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams in this window, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.

However, the financial demands the Gunners would have to meet make it highly unlikely for a move to happen before the January transfer market ends, and the Spain international is also not agitating to leave this month.

Williams has been involved in 34 goals since the start of last season, and Arsenal could do with such an attacker during the second half of the season.

The North Londoners could be without Bukayo Saka until March or April following surgery, and they need a quality replacement for the time being.

To get Williams this month, Arsenal have to pay his €60 million release clause in full and meet his personal demands, making a move very tricky.

A summer deal appears to be more realistic, and the Gunners may need to wait until then to get their man.

Arteta is a huge admirer of the Spanish winger given his versatility, pace and creativity, but he has to look elsewhere for the attacking reinforcement he badly craves from the look of things.

Williams is reportedly open to a Premier League move after a deal to join Barcelona fell through last summer, but the Gunners will have a fierce battle on their hands should they look to land him even next summer, with Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Liverpool also keen on recruiting his services.

Arsenal have been linked with a loan interest in Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, but it remains to be seen whether the Seagulls are open to a deal.

Raheem Sterling has dropped an early team news hint ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Newcastle United. The Gunners will lock horns with the Magpies at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as they look to get the upper hand in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Arsenal will be eager to return to winning ways after they were held to a draw by Brighton on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Newcastle, who have won each of their last six games across all competitions, will be looking to pick up from where they left off after storming past Tottenham Hotspur.

Nevertheless, Sterling has posted pre-match graphic previews of the Magpies fixture to his Instagram story. Usually, this suggests that he’ll be involved in some capacity despite questions marks over his fitness.

Jurrien Timber and Jorginho have also done the same, hinting that they could start against Eddie Howe’s side. Speaking to reporters ahead of the heavyweight clash, Arteta confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri will miss the clash due to a muscle injury.

“Unfortunately, he has picked up an injury and he is going to be out for a few weeks,” said the Spaniard. “Yes. He didn’t really know to be fair. He said, ‘I am feeling something but I don’t really know what it is’.

“He has earned the right to step up and play for us and now he has started some games, some big games and impacted those games in the way he has done in different positions, too.

Arsenal will be without several members of their squad when they take on Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Mikel Arteta’s side host Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as they look to take a first-leg lead to St James’ Park next month. The Gunners defeated Crystal Palace in their quarter-final tie in December, with Gabriel Jesus scoring a hat-trick in the 3-2 victory.

This time, Arsenal will have several players on the sidelines due to injury for the clash against Newcastle. Arteta confirmed in his press conference on Monday that Ethan Nwaneri suffered a muscle injury in the Premier League draw with Brighton at the weekend, and will be unavailable for several weeks.

Kai Havertz has missed Arsenal’s last two matches against Brentford and Brighton due to illness. Arteta was optimistic that Havertz could return to the matchday squad against Newcastle but would not confirm if the German would be available or not.

Goalkeeper Neto will be unavailable for the match as he is cup-tied, having played in the competition earlier this season for Bournemouth before his loan to Arsenal. Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also unavailable due to injury.

Goalkeepers: David Raya, Tommy Setford.

Defenders: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, Kieran Tierney.

Midfielders: Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Jorginho.

Forwards: Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard.

Unavailable: Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Raheem Sterling (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Ethan Nwaneri (muscle), Ben White (knee), Neto (cup-tied).

Arsenal are weighing up a move for a £20m-rated midfielder, and while he has the green light to leave via a ‘gentleman’s agreement’, a sale could wreck his current club’s season, according to reports.

Mikel Arteta has stated Arsenal are attentive to opportunities in the winter window and won’t hesitate to make a move if the circumstances are right.

Many among the Arsenal fanbase are hopeful of a blockbuster addition to the forward line. Alexander Isak of Newcastle is the club’s No 1 striker target, though a January move is virtually impossible given the Swede’s £100m-plus valuation and Newcastle’s extreme reluctance to sell.

Instead, a new signing on the wings to provide cover for the injured Bukayo Saka could be on the agenda, while a fresh report from FootballTransfers states central midfield could be strengthened.

It’s claimed Arsenal have lingering doubts over the futures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho who are both over 30.

Speaking last week, Arteta revealed Arsenal don’t intend to discuss the futures of the midfield duo until later in the season. Partey (31) and Jorginho (33) are both in the final six months of their respective deals.

“I don’t want to start to have these conversations now, I want to have these conversations much later because the focus has to be on what we have to do in the season.

“It’s close communication with them to understand as well what their idea is, what they want to do, express as well our intentions and then let’s decide for everybody what is the best option there.