REPORT. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta strongly suggest that Viktor Gyökeres is poised to become Arsenal’s primary penalty taker for the upcoming 2025–26 season.
Arteta confirmed:
“I’m sure they will [let him] step in if he is allowed to do so. As you say, he’s been very consistent and he’s scored many of those, but we have some other penalty takers — really good ones as well. So they will resolve it themselves and, if not, I will intervene in the right moment.”
This is a clear signal of a shift from Bukayo Saka—who previously led the role—towards Gyökeres stepping in, while internal competition remains with players like Martin Ødegaard also in the mix.
Why Gyökeres?
Top-class penalty record: Over his career, Gyökeres has converted 34 of 38 spot-kicks, including 19 in the 2024–25 Primeira Liga alone .
Prolific goal-scorer: He netted 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP before his £63.5 million move to Arsenal .
Instrumental signing: Arteta sees Gyökeres as a transformative addition, expected to solve Arsenal’s longstanding striker problem. His clinical reliability from the spot only adds to that role expectation .
While Bukayo Saka is still highly rated and remains an option—especially given his recent vice-captaincy and prior duties—the narrative now heavily leans toward Gyökeres becoming the go-to penalty taker when available.
What this means for Arsenal
If Gyökeres truly takes over spot‑kicks, it could mean more penalties converted given his consistency.
The final decision may depend on form and training performances—Arteta hinted the group would settle it, with his potential intervention if needed.
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📝 In conclusion: Yes, Viktor Gyökeres is expected to be Arsenal’s new first-choice penalty taker for the 2025–26 season, given his outstanding spot‑kick record and Arteta’s own statements. The decision appears clear unless training or form changes the dynamic before competitive matches begin.
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