What Arsenal did to Viktor Gyokeres vs Athletic Club as Mikel Arteta drops enormous Man Utd hint

Arsenal ended their pre-season with a much-needed result and performance as they made light work of Athletic Club at the Emirates Stadium. Viktor Gyokeres scored and could have had more as Mikel Arteta’s side found the answer they were looking for.

After a mixed summer of frustration in the transfer market and then underwhelming displays in Asia whilst on tour, Arsenal put in their best showing at home. Despite wasting early chances to go ahead, Gyokeres’ powerful header set the Gunners on their way to a commanding victory.

Martin Zubimendi dictated play from deep, surging forward to offer threat in the attacking areas as well, with Bukayo Saka producing a typically glitzy game. He scored just minutes after Gyokeres and then Kai Havertz made sure to leave his own impression on matters from the bench.

His surging run from deep was Havertz at his very best, capping off the drive with a strong finish across Unai Simon, whose goal was under pressure for most of the evening. It leaves a much better taste in the mouth for supporters ahead of the trip to Old Trafford next weekend in the Premier League opener.

Here, football.london goes through the main talking points from N5.

Quick for Vik

It wasn’t long before Gyokeres met Zubimendi’s fizzed cross into the box that questions over Arsenal’s marriage with their new striker had started to crumble. It is ridiculous to say considering how little football he has played in the past three months, but there were doubters beginning to pipe up.

In one swift neck movement, Gyokeres silenced them. Immediately, this was 34 minutes in which he had worked a good shooting chance, set up Riccardo Calafiori for a better one, and then scored.

The half an hour period before that was spent mostly watching Gyokeres run down the left channel without receiving possession. When Arsenal had it in a controlled way, the question was how to involve their animal up front, sniffing around the box in search of scraps.

As it turns out, the best way to utilise Gyokeres is just to let him within sight of the ball. From there, he will chase it, bulldoze anyone, anything (or everyone and everything) to get to it.

This was the method that saw him spring to his left, fake to shoot and lay up smartly to Calafiori. When Zubimendi shaped to cross, his movement allowed him to access the ball at fast pace, flicking it with immense purpose towards the goal. Before Unai Simon could think, it had gone past him,

Arsenal took a while to get to grips with exactly what Gyokeres wanted and needed, but as soon as they connected, it was over for Athletic. Gyokeres started to bully his opponents, receiving a long pass from David Raya in the second half, bundling over two players and releasing Saka from his position on the floor.

Raya was always looking to set the Swede away, launching himself towards the ball at goal kicks in order to make the most of any transition. Gyokeres ate up the space that Athletic started to allow him as they tried to chase a way back into the game.

He nearly crashed in a diving header and grew into the match. Arsenal’s eventual insistence on playing forward with pace benefited not just Gyokeres, but Havertz. He is quicker than he may initially seem and can gallop around.

That was how he ended up scoring. With two strikers able to provide a full 90 minutes of energy and threat, Arsenal will be a seriously potent side no matter who is playing. If they are brave enough to pick up the tempo and search for Gyokeres then it will only add another layer to their game.

Arteta’s strongest team

With Gyokeres and Zubimendi in, this was extremely close to being Arsenal’s best XI from the start. The only positions that may well change before next Sunday appear to be at full-back.

Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori got the nod with Ben White introduced at half-time at right-back. Timber switched over to the left before later being replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly.

White was arguably the best performer, finding himself back as one of the three points to Arteta’s dynamic right-sided triangle with Martin Odegaard and Saka. Timber was less adventurous but did grow into the game, feeding Zubimendi and Saka for chances.

There is not much more White could have done to make a case for starting at Old Trafford, though. He overlapped and crossed willingly, only narrowly missing Timber’s head for a goal in the second half.

On the left side it is more complicated. Lewis-Skelly was a bit sluggish compared to his usual self and did not leave as much of a statement. He owned the left-back spot last season once introduced but will face more competition from Calafiori and Timber if fitness issues wear off.

Calafiori himself had a hot and cold day. When playing passes to Gabriel Martinelli and trying to get forward from defence, he showed some nice touches and flicks. But, like Timber, he also had a brain fade to give the ball away, allowing Athletic one of their few shots at Raya.

Arteta seems to know at least nine of his starting XI already. If this game is anything to go by, it’s only the full-backs that face a big week in training.

Madueke message

If the full-backs are fighting for a place next weekend then the only other readily available position is Gabriel Martinelli’s left-wing spot. He has a real battle on his hands to keep Noni Madueke out, even if the former Chelsea man would prefer to operate on the right.

He got 45 minutes here, half an hour more than on his first Arsenal appearance against Villarreal, where he also replaced Martinelli rather than Saka. It is an early indication that Arteta is preparing Madueke for chances in that role actively, rather than simply using him as a backup to Arsenal’s talisman.

Madueke definitely made his second appearance count, as well. He was lively in what gradually became a slower second half, often looking to directly influence play.

At every chance, he was quick to make darting movements towards the byline, getting into positions to cross or cut the ball back from his stronger left foot. The first time drew a corner after a burst of speed, whilst another cross from that side almost found Saka at the back post.

Martinelli had a decent game himself, playing in the straight line manner that he does. On several occasions, he rocketed past his man and into the box or towards the byline. He was either met with blocks or failed with the final piece of quality.

He did manage to assist Saka for the second goal after a clever run but might have delivered better from some strong situations, instead skewing a shot wide with his left foot when a ball across goal was on, or only finding the hands of Unai Simon.

It is this sort of 75% performance which has left Arsenal in need of reinforcement and additions on the left, and Madueke has made a solid start to add pressure to his position. Old Trafford might come too soon for a first start, but it might not be long before Madueke finds himself in the team.