Viktor Gyokeres performs his signature celebration during his Arsenal debut on 26/7. Photo: Arsenal FC

Viktor Gyokeres performs his signature celebration during his Arsenal debut on 26/7. Photo: Arsenal FC

Upon signing with Arsenal, Gyokeres revealed that the celebration originated from friendly teasing.

"I used to change my celebrations constantly, and my friends suggested I needed a signature move," the Swedish striker explained, revealing how he and his friends devised the mask gesture. "We thought it looked cool, so I tried it. On the field, it felt even better."

While never fully explaining the meaning behind the celebration, Gyokeres posted a cryptic message on Instagram in June 2024.

"Nobody cared until I put on the mask", the 27-year-old striker wrote, echoing Bane's famous line in The Dark Knight Rises, "Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask".

Many fans believe it represents Gyokeres's journey from relative obscurity to becoming a top European striker.

In the past two seasons, Gyokeres scored 68 goals in the Portuguese Premier League, leading all scorers across Europe's top 10 leagues. This prolific scoring made his mask celebration quickly iconic.

Every time the Sporting striker scored, thousands of fans in the stands raised their hands to mimic the mask.

Center-back Gabriel Magalhaes covers his face, celebrating Arsenal's third goal in their 5-1 victory over Sporting at Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal, on 26/11/2024. Photo: AFP

Center-back Gabriel Magalhaes covers his face, celebrating Arsenal's third goal in their 5-1 victory over Sporting at Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal, on 26/11/2024. Photo: AFP

Even some of Gyokeres's opponents have replicated the celebration, including his new Arsenal teammate, Gabriel Magalhaes. During Arsenal's 5-1 Champions League group stage win over Sporting in November 2024, the Brazilian center-back attempted the gesture after scoring. However, his hand placement was off, making it unlike Gyokeres's "original".

When asked about the imitation, Gyokeres was relaxed: "He does that if he doesn't have his own celebration yet", he laughed. "I didn't know he did that, but it's fun to see people like my celebration."

Now teammates at Arsenal, Gyokeres can show Gabriel the correct technique. Emirates Stadium will become the new stage for the mask celebration, alongside crucial goals from the Swedish newcomer.

Many fans in Singapore imitate Viktor Gyokeres's "mask" goal celebration. Photo: Tribuna

Many fans in Singapore imitate Viktor Gyokeres's "mask" goal celebration. Photo: Tribuna

Gyokeres debuted before fans and new teammates in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Newcastle in Singapore on 27/7. Following the match, the team will travel to Hong Kong for a friendly against Tottenham on 31/7, before returning to London to face Villarreal on 6/8 and Bilbao on 9/8.

Hong Duy (Premier League)