Viktor Gyokeres: Why did the Arsenal striker not make it at Brighton during the early part of his career?

Viktor Gyokeres, now a key striker for Arsenal, was once seen as one of those 'hidden gems' Brighton had the chance to nurture into something special. However, his time at the Seagulls came and went in surprisingly short order.

Gyokeres' experience at Brighton was marked by inconsistency, with him making just eight first-team appearances before being sold on for a mere £1m to Coventry in 2021. Despite this modest fee, he has since become a prized asset for Sporting CP, valued at £20m, and Arsenal, his current club.

The Swedish forward's playing style was an unusual one during his early days with Brighton. Rather than the typical target man, Gyokeres often played as a winger. "He would play through the middle but he kind of played off the left," Josh Kerr explained to Sky Sports.

This left-wing role suited Gyokeres well, and it influenced much of his career trajectory. Many of his goals for Sporting CP and Arsenal have come from similar positions on the flank. This has been a key factor in his development as a player.

Despite his impressive form since leaving Brighton, the club still seems to be somewhat ambivalent about letting him go. Brighton CEO Paul Barber has expressed some regret over parting ways with Gyokeres, saying that he 'progressed exceptionally well'. However, it is clear that Gyokeres himself is not dwelling on what could have been at his former club.

In fact, Gyokeres still maintains a good relationship with those from his past. His old agent, Josh Kerr, recently took him to watch Sweden play in a World Cup qualifier while Kerr was out doing work in Slovenia. This gesture suggests that Gyokeres has not lost any of the humility and gratitude for the people who helped him grow as a player.

As for whether Brighton have any regrets about releasing Gyokeres from their books, the answer is complex. Barber prefers to see it as a case of 'progression', rather than letting an opportunity slip away. However, one has to wonder what might have been if the club had invested more time and resources in nurturing this talented young player.

Despite that, Gyokeres has certainly taken his chance at Brighton and run with it. His meteoric rise through the ranks is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and natural ability. As he continues to excel at Arsenal, fans can only hope that the club's experience in letting him go proved to be a turning point for this extraordinary young talent.

I'm so frustrated with Brighton. They had one of their best players on their hands and they just let him slip through their fingers. £1m? Come on! That's peanuts for someone as talented as Gyokeres. And now look at him, scoring goals for Arsenal and Sporting CP like he's going out of style. It's clear that the Swedish forward has moved on from his time at Brighton and is loving every minute of it. Meanwhile, the club is still stuck in the past wondering what could've been.

This whole thing just smells like class warfare . I mean, £1m for Gyokeres? That's a small fortune for Brighton and Coventry! Meanwhile, their owners are probably getting fat off the club's profits while the players are struggling to make ends meet . And now, Gyokeres is raking it in at Arsenal... it's just not fair .

But here's the thing: if Brighton had invested more time and resources into developing Gyokeres, he might not have ended up on the scrapheap for sale. It's a classic case of "those who don't adapt get left behind" . And what about Paul Barber's "progression" narrative? Is that just a PR spin to cover up the club's lack of investment in its players?

It's all about opportunities and fairness, folks! If Brighton had taken a chance on Gyokeres when they had the chance, he might be living his best life right now. But instead, it's every player for themselves... and the ones who are left behind are always the ones who need a helping hand .

lol I feel like Brighton got played in the transfer market ! £1m was an absolute steal on Viktor Gyokeres, now he's worth £20m! They should've invested more time and resources into nurturing him back then. It's cool to see that despite all this, he still keeps it real with his old team and agent though . He's definitely living proof that hard work and dedication can take you far in football .

omg i'm so hyped 4 Viktor Gyokeres!! he's come so far from being 'just another player' and now he's a key striker at Arsenal i mean, it's crazy how quickly his career has taken off! i think it's awesome that he's still on good terms with Brighton tho, even if they did let him go kinda cheaply it just goes to show that he's got a great attitude and is grateful for the experience he got there. anyway, here's to many more goals from this talented guy!

omg u think brighton r really lucky they got rid of gyokeres tho - i mean like he had his time but then sold 4 £1m lol and now hes worth £20m - guess they just didnt know how 2 handle him yet anyway, its cool that hes still chill with his old mates from brighton

I mean, who needs investment in youth development when you've got a system like Brighton's, right? It's not like they had a 20m pound striker with massive potential just sitting on their hands waiting to be nurtured... that would've been crazy! Anyway, it's all good for Gyokeres now, he's living his best life and making some serious dosh. Poor Brighton, can't say I blame him for moving on from a situation like that

omg u guys I just read about Viktor Gyokeres' journey from Brighton to Arsenal & it's like wow ! I feel bad 4 Brighton tho, cuz they let him slip away & now he's reaping the benefits ... but like gyokeres is def taking all the credit 4 his success & not dwelling on what could've been ... actually, it's kinda inspiring 2 see him still maintain good vibes w/ people from his past ... anyway, it's clear that he's got natural talent & has put in the work to get where he is today

man... Gyokeres' story is like a reminder that sometimes you gotta let people fly on their own wings, ya know? if brighton had held onto him, it could've been like they were holding back his full potential... but instead, he's now flying high with arsenal and sporting cp. it's cool to see him grow from that winger role into a key striker. what i find interesting is how he maintains those good relationships with people who helped him, like josh kerr... it shows that even in the game of football, humility and gratitude can take you far

I gotta say, I'm still tryin' to figure out what Brighton was thinkin' when they sold Gyokeres so cheaply . £1m is basically peanuts considering how much he's worth now . I mean, I get it, they might've thought he wasn't the complete package or somethin', but come on, you'd rather give up a potential star than take a chance on him?

And can we talk about how underrated Brighton was for developin' Gyokeres in the first place? I mean, they did give him a shot and he still managed to make a big impact. You'd think that'd be somethin' to be proud of... but I guess they just didn't see it comin'?

Still, gotta hand it to Gyokeres for makin' the most of his situation and turnin' himself into a top player . And now he's killin' it at Arsenal . Can't wait to see what he does next!

I wonder why Brighton didn't keep hold of Gyokeres? He sounds like a really talented player who just needed a bit more time and support to flourish, but I guess £1m is a pretty good price for a shot in the dark... Anyway, it's cool that he's still on good terms with his old club - you never know how these things can work out. Has anyone else noticed how many big-name players have been released by smaller clubs only to go on and do amazingly well elsewhere?

Ugh, can't believe Brighton didn't develop Gyokeres like we thought they would They had him on their team and then just kinda let him slide I mean, £1m for a player who's now worth £20m? That's some savage business . But you gotta give credit to Gyokeres, the dude has worked his way up from nothing . And it's cool that he still keeps it 100 with Brighton, shows no hard feelings . Maybe they just didn't know what they had when he was there . Still, would've loved to see him shine in a more prominent role at the club . Guess you could say his time at Brighton was like that awkward first date, where it's all 'maybe' and 'could've been' .

I mean, think about it, Viktor Gyokeres was literally given a chance at Brighton and they blew it . He had all the potential, but their time with him just didn't add up. Now he's killing it at Arsenal and it's hard to say if they made the right call letting him go. The Swedish forward's career trajectory is like that of a rollercoaster ride - one minute you're soaring high, the next you're stuck in neutral . But hey, I guess some clubs just aren't meant for everyone. Still, it's all about how the chips fall and Brighton's gamble with Gyokeres looks like it might've been worth taking... maybe .

I dont get why Brighton released Gyokeres so soon... like, they had him for 8 games and then sold him? seems like a waste to me . But i guess they couldnt invest enough time in him, or maybe he just didnt fit their style of play? Anyway, its good to see him doing well now at Arsenal! his playing style is kinda unique, always playing on the left wing... wonder if thats something that can be taught or if hes just naturally good at it . anyway, i'm glad he's doing well and not dwelling on what could have been

I'm just gonna chime in here lol I feel bad for Brighton tho they let Gyokeres go but like, his career is taking off and they're raking it in from all the transfers lol £20m on him now? insane what if they had invested more time & resources in him back then? maybe he'd be a star by now

I dont think £1m was a good deal for Brighton sellin Gyokeres. He's worth way more now I mean, £20m is a lot of cash and he's already doin well at Arsenal. What if they'd held on to him a bit longer? We never know what coulda been