Mikel Arteta warned rivals that Viktor Gyokeres can ‘destroy’ defences after he scored his first Arsenal aim of their closing pre-season fixture.
The Gunners signed the £64million striker from Sporting Lisbon final month, ending a protracted wait of including a No9 to their ranks.
Gyokeres made a 13-minute cameo on his debut for the north London membership in a 1-0 defeat to north London rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong, earlier than additionally failing to web towards Villarreal on Wednesday.
But he made it third time fortunate on Saturday with the go to of Athletic Bilbao. The 27-year-old netted the opener of their 3-0 Emirates Cup win with a thumping header from fellow summer time signing Martin Zubimendi’s cross.
Gyokeres scored simply 5 instances along with his head for Sporting throughout 102 appearances in Portugal — resulting in jibes from rival supporters that Arsenal’s new frontman cannot web headers.
Nevertheless, he proved doubters improper along with his aim. Bukayo Saka netted simply moments later to place the Gunners 2-0 forward at half-time earlier than Kai Havertz added a 3rd late on.
Mikel Arteta has warned Premier League rivals that Viktor Gyokeres can ‘destroy’ defences
The 27-year-old broke his scoring duck throughout Arsenal’s 3-0 victory towards Athletic Membership
Gyokeres netted the opener with a header from fellow new signing Martin Zubimendi’s cross
Arsenal face Manchester United of their Premier League opening match subsequent Sunday.
Arteta stated: ‘That first aim is all the time crucial. The best way he took it as properly, very well.
‘Every little thing that he does, his motion, timing, the best way he predicates the following transfer, the place the area goes to be, that’s the intuition he has. That’s why he’s scored so many objectives in the previous few seasons.
‘He pins each centre backs. He’s a participant that when you depart him with area one towards one, he’s gonna destroy you so he’s going to create loads of area for us.
‘In any scenario there’s a participant there that may rating a aim.’
