It may have been just a pre-season friendly against Villarreal, but the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium buzzed with excitement as Arsenal fans gathered to see £64m signing Viktor Gyokeres in action for the first time.
Supporters are hopeful the 27-year-old Sweden international will be the final piece needed to end Arsenal’s trophy drought, which stretches back to 2020. The biggest cheer pre-match came when Gyokeres’ name was read out in the starting lineup—matched only by the applause for the introduction of 15-year-old prospect Max Dowman.
There was a sense of anticipation every time Gyokeres touched the ball, with his teammates seemingly eager to help him find the net on his home debut. That goal didn’t come, and Arsenal slipped to a 3-2 loss against the Spanish side, with summer signing Christian Norgaard and captain Martin Odegaard scoring for the Gunners.
Still, the Swedish striker showed encouraging signs during his 60-minute outing—especially considering he hadn’t trained with a team in two months following his departure from Sporting Lisbon.
Manager Mikel Arteta was confident Gyokeres would be fully ready for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on Sunday, 17 August.
“Mentally, and in understanding what he needs to do, he’ll be 100%,” Arteta said. “He’s so willing and confident he can deliver straight away. We’ve already broken the ice today—it was important for him to start, feel the game, and connect with the team.”
Arteta noted the forward’s intelligent movement and intent, adding: “He’s only had about five training sessions, but I’ve already seen a lot of purpose in the way he attacks space.”
Arsenal’s style also appeared to shift slightly, with the team trying to deliver balls into the box more quickly to suit Gyokeres’ strengths. He nearly converted a first-half cross and later forced a strong save after being played through in the second half.
Asked how long it might take Gyokeres to settle, Arteta was upbeat: “I hope days,” he said with a smile. “Every day he’s getting a better feeling. He’s building connections on and off the pitch that will help him get into the right positions.”
With another friendly against Athletic Bilbao still to come, Arteta believes Gyokeres will take a step forward in both fitness and sharpness ahead of his potential Premier League debut at Old Trafford.
