Viktor Gyokeres reveals the story behind his signature mask celebration

Viktor Gyokeres unveils the motivation behind his “mask-wearing” celebration and confesses the tough beginning at Arsenal during his adjustment to the Premier League and the title race.

Recently, Viktor Gyokeres opened up about his distinctive goal celebration that reflects his personal styleand candidly discussed the difficult initial period at Arsenal as he and his teammates aim for a historic season.

The Swedish striker joined Arsenal in the summer of 2025 for an initial fee of 55 million euros after activating the release clause from Sporting Lisbon.

However, the Premier League has never been an easy challenge. Gyokeres admits he faced several difficulties early on at Emirates, including the pace of the game, pressure from expectations, and minor injuries disrupting his rhythm. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old forward managed to make an impact with 11 goals across all competitions, accompanied by his well-known “mask” gesture made with his hands.

Regarding the origin of this move, Gyokeres explained that the idea came casually during conversations with friends. They wanted him to have a consistent celebration rather than constantly changing it. “We came up with the current gesture together, and I really like it. I always enjoy celebrating with it,” Gyokeres said. This image also reminds many of the character Bane from the Batman series, a connection strengthened by Gyokeres’s famous post: “Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask.”

Talking about his journey at Arsenal, Gyokeres remains calm: “It’s similar to when I moved to Portugal. It wasn’t perfect at first; I needed time to adapt to a new style of play. It’s the same here. The key is to learn and accept the challenges.”

The Swedish striker emphasized that his top priority is collective success rather than personal statistics. “I want the team to win. I believe I still have plenty of time to prove I can contribute even more,” Gyokeres affirmed.

With Arsenal currently leading the Premier League by 6 points, undefeated in the Champions League group stage, and advancing deep in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, Gyokeres has reason to believe that the early challenges were just stepping stones. If he continues to be patient and integrates better, the Swedish forward could become a key piece in Arsenal’s quest for trophies this season.