Reported by BBC Sport, Eseme explained that he did not know the meaning of the celebration and so he created his own. He stated that linking the celebration made famous by Gyokeres to a pirate mask helped to reflect his goals in his own career in athletics.
Gyokeres has been doing the celebration ever since his Coventry City days in the Championship and it has become an iconic symbol of his prolific record in front of goal. This was particularly evident during his time at Sporting CP in Portugal, where he scored 97 goals in just two seasons. Over the summer the striker agitated for a move to The Emirates, which he eventually got – but he has received criticism from some.
Eseme said: “I didn’t know the meaning of his mask, but then I decided to give a meaning. [It] looks similar to the pirate mask. And when pirates go somewhere they change the happenings of everything, and I believe that’s what I’m doing in athletics.”
Arsenal fans will hope to see the famous mask celebration on display many times at the Emirates this season, as Gyokeres aims to build on a brace on his home debut against Leeds United. The Gunners host Nottingham Forest in their first match after the international break on Saturday lunchtime, beginning their Champions League campaign against Athletic Club in midweek before hosting Manchester City on September 21. The Swedish striker will know that these are the exact type of games in which he was brought in to make the difference.
