One thing that has become very clear in the UEFA Champions League and wider European football over the past couple of years is that Viktor Gyokeres really, really likes scoring goals.
The striker found himself linked with a potential big-money transfer in 2025 due to his standout performances for Sporting CP in the Portuguese top flight and Europe's elite club competition.
That eventually came to fruition in July, with Arsenal striking a deal to sign the forward and satisfy their fans' clamour for an elite-level No. 9.
His first two goals for the club came against Leeds on Saturday, August 23 when he scored twice in a 5-0 win, including once from open play and once from the penalty spot.
The Sweden international's goal-scoring prowess means his trademark celebration has also become recognised among supporters around the world and was mimicked as he posed for pictures during his preseason tour with the Gunners. Even NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has previously copied the gesture, which suggests it might just catch on beyond the confines of north London.
Game recognize game 🫱🫲@Giannis_An34 🤝 @viktor_gyokeres pic.twitter.com/gEQZvjHLVJ
— Sporting CP English (@SportingCP_en) November 24, 2024
What's the inspiration behind the celebration? The Sporting News explains.
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Viktor Gyokeres 'Bane mask' celebration explained
Gyokeres' typical celebration after scoring a goal sees him lace his fingers together and place his hands in front of the lower half of his face, just like a mask.
His former Coventry City teammate Josh Eccles joked that the gesture could have been inspired by Hannibal Lecter, the infamous cannibal depicted on screen by Anthony Hopkins. "Hannibal eats people, and Viktor destroys defenses," Eccles was quoted as saying.
However, Gyokeres himself cites Batman villain Bane as the real inspiration behind it. Back in June 2024, he posted an Instagram video compilation of some of his Sporting goals along with the caption "Nobody cared until I put on the mask" — an apparent reference to a line spoken by Bane in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises.
The character, portrayed by Tom Hardy in Nolan's movie, is a notable masked villain in the original DC Comics who boasts prodigious strength and intelligence. First appearing in Batman: Vengeance of Bane, he is often considered the only antagonist to best Batman physically and mentally.
Upon signing for Arsenal, Gyokeres explained to the club's in-house TV channel: "Before I got [the celebration], my friends were always saying to me to find my own celebration because they were very tired of me doing all kinds of stuff when I was celebrating.
"I had some time off. We went on vacation together. During that time, we came up with it after a while. We thought it looked good and I started doing it straightaway. It felt even better on the pitch."
MORE: How to pronounce Viktor Gyokeres' name properly
Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to 'haters' with Bane gesture
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most famous name to copy Gyokeres' Bane gesture. The Milwaukee Bucks' "Greek Freak" posted a mocked-up photo of himself alongside Hardy's Bane on X on November 24, 2024, captioning the post: "Love my haters, they're my biggest fans."
Love my haters, they’re my biggest fans 📣🖤 pic.twitter.com/oQpYKUiR6X
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) November 24, 2024
That came after he posted 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the Bucks' 125-119 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Viktor Gyokeres debut goals for Arsenal
The 27-year-old was at the head of the attack as Arsenal trounced Leeds 5-0 at the Emirates for their first home win of the 2025/26 campaign.
Gyokeres scored twice, and did the Bane celebration both times.
His first came from open play as he latched onto a long ball from the Arsenal midfield, picking it up near the left touchline. The Swede did the rest all by himself, dribbling in through the left edge of the penalty area before cutting a right-footed shot that skidded inside the near post.
Watch in USA:
VIKTOR GYOKERES IS OFF THE MARK FOR ARSENAL. 🫢 pic.twitter.com/FEUSAzdJVz
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 23, 2025
Watch in UK:
Viktor Gyökeres scores his first Arsenal goal and what a goal this is ✨ pic.twitter.com/bpchneTaDY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 23, 2025
Gyokeres then scored a penalty in stoppage time, when young Max Dowman won a spot-kick on his Premier League debut for the club. The new talisman took the ball and deposited the effort, as he did so proficiently for Sporting the year before. Arsenal fans will be thrilled to have a quality penalty taker, as they struggled from the spot the previous season.