Gyökeres Explains Celebration After First Arsenal Goals in Leeds Rout

Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyökeres has revealed the cheeky reason behind his hair-flick celebration during the Gunners’ 5-0 demolition of Leeds United on Saturday.

The Swedish forward, who joined the North London club just weeks ago, opened his Arsenal account with a smart finish before confidently dispatching a late penalty to seal a brace. After his first goal, he turned to the Emirates crowd and playfully flicked his hair—a move that was no accident.

The 26-year-old explained that the celebration was aimed at silencing critics who mocked his quiet debut against Manchester United, where he failed to register a shot before being subbed off in the 60th minute.

“Yeah, it might be. It could be something to do with that,” Gyökeres admitted with a smile in his post-match interview with Sky Sports. “I’m really happy with the result and yeah, of course, it was very nice to score two goals as well.”

The striker’s response underlined his determination to answer doubts not with words but with goals.

Opinion: A Striker Who Knows How to Answer Back

There’s something fans love about a player who answers criticism with style—and Gyökeres did just that. It’s one thing to score, but it’s another to show you’re tuned in to the conversations around you and confident enough to poke fun at the noise.

Arsenal supporters will no doubt be delighted, not only because their new No.9 is off the mark, but because he has already shown the mentality that separates good strikers from great ones: thick skin, sharp focus, and a bit of personality to go with it.

Yes, his first outing at Old Trafford was underwhelming, but every striker needs time to adjust. What matters is how he bounces back—and Gyökeres did so emphatically with two goals and a celebration that spoke volumes.

For Arsenal, who are now top of the Premier League with a perfect start, this is more than just about the goals. It’s about belief. If Gyökeres can channel criticism into motivation, the Emirates might just have found their next cult hero.