Why Brighton chief didn’t regret Viktor Gyokeres sale as Arsenal star set for reunion

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Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres is set for a reunion with his former club Brighton and Hove Albion when the two teams face off in the Carabao Cup.

Not many know about the Swedish striker’s spell on the south coast, which truly introduced him into English football.

In 2018, Brighton signed Viktor Gyokeres for around £1 million as they viewed him as a young option for the future.

Several loan moves away eventually saw him leave to join Coventry, then Sporting CP, leading to Arsenal in the present day.

It’s quite the rise and one that has people wondering how a team like Brighton, with their transfer record, could let a quality option like Gyokeres leave.

While it may be viewed as a regret if the Arsenal star can help beat the Seagulls, that clearly wasn’t the feeling one year ago.

Paul Barber explains why Viktor Gyokeres left Brighton

Brighton have done well with recruitment in recent seasons, seemingly finding and developing the best talent in the Premier League.

However, there were always going to be a few who slip through the net, and Gyokeres is certainly one of those.

While he could haunt them now he is at Arsenal, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber made it clear that he didn’t regret the sale.

Speaking to The Athletic in 2024, he said: “Players develop at different rates. Sometimes pathways are unavoidably blocked, so a loan or permanent move is a better option, particularly if the player really wants to be settled sooner.”

“In 2021, when Viktor was transferred to Coventry, his pathway here wasn’t clear and, with his contract running down, he wanted a permanent home.

“We have to accept the decision to sell for what it was at that time – right for the player, and right for the club.

“What Viktor has gone on to do is fantastic. Everyone is delighted for him. He is a great lad and has become a fantastic player, good luck to him. Player recruitment isn’t an exact science, neither are decisions to move players on or when to do so.

“You can always look back on decisions using the benefit of hindsight but there will always be reasons for them. It’s about making a series of judgments in real time. Most clubs have similar examples. It’s football. It happens.”

It’s clear that the sale was made with the right intentions at the time, but it’s one they could come to regret.

A lot has happened since that move, and Gyokeres is a different player from his time in the youth ranks at Brighton.

Now, he could look to propel Arsenal through the Carabao Cup.

Viktor Gyokeres could make Brighton pay for lack of chances

During his three-year stay at Brighton, Gyokeres only went on to make eight appearances for the club, all in cup competitions.

Now, Gyokeres is thriving at Arsenal, providing them with a different profile up front to help create space for the other attacking options.

Goals have been rather stop-start, however, but he could have some extra motivation to prove Brighton wrong in his first reunion with the club.

Eberechi Eze’s goal against Crystal Palace was a great example of a player scoring against their old club in an emotional environment.

“There is something in your tummy,” Arteta said when describing what it’s like facing a former side.

“There is history, there are a lot of emotions, there are very close relationships.”

Gyokeres will be looking to weaponise that to fire Arsenal through to the next round of the cup.