Mikel Arteta has sent out a major warning to Arsenal’s opponents after Viktor Gyokeres scored his first goal for the club. The big-money summer addition netted the Gunners’ first goal on Saturday as they beat Athletic Club 3-0 in the Emirates Cup.
It was some finish from the Swede as well as he got ahead of his marker to emphatically head Martin Zubimendi’s cross into the top corner of Unai Simon’s goal. Gyokeres’ maiden Arsenal goal has come at the perfect time as he bids to hit the ground running in the Premier League when the north London club travel to Manchester United next Sunday.
The ex-Coventry City man is so much more than just a goalscorer, though, with Arteta mentioning his ability to create space as something Arsenal can profit from.
“Yeah for sure I’m lucky that first goal is always very important,” said the Spaniard in his post-match press conference. “The way he took it as well, really well.
“So again, I think we have some big performances, we’re developing certain connections as well, with the new players very good. Kai [Havertz] coming in as well, the goal he scored I think was top as well.
“So everybody, raising the level of everybody, is going to really help us because at that level we’re going to need our very best from everybody.”
On the characteristics Gyokeres adds to the squad, Arteta explained: “Well I think his goals, his threat. I think he pins both centre backs, he’s a player that when you’re living with a space, one against one, he’s going to destroy you.
“So he’s going to create a lot of space as well for us and yeah, the moment that in any situation there is a player there that can score a goal.”
There have been plenty of questions about whether Gyokeres will be able to transfer his prolific goalscoring form from Portugal to the Premier League. The Stockholm-born ace certainly has a desire to score goals and that could prove fruitful for Arsenal over the coming seasons.
“That’s his nature. I think everything that he does, his movement, the way he times his runs, the way he predicts the next move and where the space can be and where the ball is going to land, that’s the instinct that he has,” outlined Arteta.
“That’s why he’s scored so many goals in the last few seasons so that’s not a coincidence. It’s his ability and he’s constantly looking for it.”
He added: “Well it’s certain he’s going to add a different kind of threat and options to score goals from probably a situation that before we didn’t have the opportunity to do so. So a real value there for us.”
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