The news of Viktor Gyokeres’ potential move to Arsenal painted a rosy picture for fans. Many fans saw the Swede as the player that Arteta had been asking for in order to improve his quality up front. For weeks, his name was being discussed along with Benjamin Sesko as the two serious options to reinforce the forward line. In the end, the Londoners opted for Gyokeres and leaks on Sunday suggested that a deal with Sporting CP was all but done. Everything pointed to a happy ending, but an unexpected twist changed the story.

Add-ons that tighten the rope for Arsenal

According to Record, the deal could hit the brakes and even collapse if Sporting CP do not give in with the famous extra ten million euros. The curious thing is that the fixed part, estimated at 63.5 million, has already been agreed without too much fuss. The thorny issue is how the bonuses are distributed: the Portuguese club wants simple, almost guaranteed money, while Arsenal want more demanding conditions.

Fabrizio Romano also pointed out that negotiations are still ongoing, although there is a real risk of a break-up right now. All this is happening while Gyokeres, who has already tightened the rope with his board to leave, is waiting to board the plane for the Asian pre-season tour. The player even waived part of his salary, and his agent reduced commissions to close the deal. Despite interest from others, such as Manchester United, the Swede only had eyes for the Gunners.

A signing that shows a new face for Arsenal

From my point of view, this episode exposes Arsenal’s new way of doing business. They have gone from being a club that paid any amount of money to get out of the way, to fighting for every last euro without being swayed by media pressure. Gyokeres fits Arteta’s plan, but not at any price. Sporting CP know they have a gem, but greed can leave them with a disgruntled player in the squad.

The Swede has already made his desire clear, and the attitude of those around him speaks volumes about his hunger to play for Arsenal. If Andre Berta can solve this problem without giving in too much, he will prove that Arsenal are not easily bent. This story is not just about goals, but also about character in the office, and that, sometimes, is worth almost as much as a fit striker.