Viktor Gyokeres netted his 18th goal in his first season as a Gunner during our clash against Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium.
The Swede joined us from Sporting CP in the summer and netted twice during his first home game of the season as we beat Leeds United 5-0 back in August.
But just how impressive has Viktor’s goal return been compared to other debut seasons in our modern history? We’ve taken a delve into the data to find out more.
vik joins the greats
In his first nine months in N5, Viktor has netted 18 times across four competitions.
When comparing his first season to other stars, the Swede is up there with the very best.
Only Alexis Sachez’s campaign in 2014/15, Thierry Henry’s first season of 1999/00, and Ian Wright’s maiden campaign of 1991/92 stand above Viktor’s in 2025/26.
Chilean Alexis netted 25 times as we finished third in the Premier League and won the FA Cup, scoring in a 4-0 final win over Aston Villa.
Thierry found the net 17 times in the Premier League, once in the League Cup and eight in Europe as we reached the final of the UEFA Cup, bringing his tally to 26.
He joined Ian Wright at the top of the pile, who netted on 26 occasions after moving from Crystal Palace in 1991.
| Season | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1991/92 | Ian Wright | 26 |
| 1999/00 | Thierry Henry | 26 |
| 2014/15 | Alexis Sanchez | 25 |
| 2025/26 | Viktor Gyokeres | 18 |
| 2012/13 | Olivier Giroud | 17 |
| 2017/18 | Alexandre Lacazette | 17 |
| 1995/96 | Dennis Bergkamp | 16 |
| 2012/13 | Lukas Podolski | 16 |
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turning it up in 2026
The turn of 2026 has seen Viktor showcase his talents on a consistent basis.
The Swede has two goals and an assist in the Champions League this year, seven strikes in the Premier League, a goal and an assist in the Carabao Cup and a goal in the FA Cup to boot.
With 13 goal contributions, Gyokeres ranks among the best attackers in the top five leagues for his output in 2026. Joao Pedro is the only Premier League player to rank higher for goals and assists in 2026, with 14 across all competitions.
He also has four goals for his country. A hat-trick against Ukraine was followed by the winner against Poland, sending his nation to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Comparing his Premier League debut campaign to other Gunners, only four players have netted more in their maiden season in the league, with Viktor needing five in his final six Premier League matches to level with Thierry Henry.
| Season | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1999/00 | Thierry Henry | 17 |
| 2014/15 | Alexis Sanchez | 16 |
| 2017/18 | Alexandre Lacazette | 14 |
| 2023/24 | Kai Havertz | 13 |
| 2025/26 | Viktor Gyokeres | 12 |
| 2012/13 | Santi Cazorla | 12 |
How Do other debut seasons compare?
There have been many memorable campaigns for players coming to N5 in recent years, in a range of categories.
When looking at assists, no player created more in their opening season than Frenchman Robert Pires.
The winger joined from Marseille and collected 15 assists in 2000/01, two more than Santi Cazorla in 2012/13, and Mesut Ozil in 2013/14, who went on to win the FA Cup in the same year.
Leandro Trossard also makes it into the top 10. The Belgian attacker is the only player on the list to register 10 assists, having joined in the winter transfer window, signing in January 2023.
| Season | Player | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 2000/01 | Robert Pires | 15 |
| 2012/13 | Santi Cazorla | 13 |
| 2013/14 | Mesut Özil | 13 |
| 1999/00 | Thierry Henry | 12 |
| 2014/15 | Alexis Sanchez | 12 |
| 2012/13 | Lukas Podolski | 11 |
| 2012/13 | Olivier Giroud | 10 |
| 1995/96 | Dennis Bergkamp | 10 |
| 2019/20 | Nicolas Pepe | 10 |
| 2022/23 | Leandro Trossard | 10 |
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When combining goals and assists, it’s no surprise to see club-record scorer Thierry Henry at the top of the pile.
The Frenchman’s 38 goals and assists is one clear of Alexis Sanchez, who picked up 37 goals and assists, including a marvellous strike in the FA Cup final.
Our three attacking signings in 2012/13 all appear in this list too, with Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud claiming 27 goal contributions, and Santi Cazorla reaching 25.
| Season | Player | Goals and Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 1999/00 | Thierry Henry | 38 |
| 2014/15 | Alexis Sanchez | 37 |
| 1991/92 | Ian Wright | 34 |
| 2012/13 | Lukas Podolski | 27 |
| 2012/13 | Olivier Giroud | 27 |
| 1995/96 | Dennis Bergkamp | 26 |
| 2012/13 | Santi Cazorla | 25 |
All statistics from Opta, correct as of 13/04/26.
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
