Mikel Arteta makes confident Viktor Gyokeres prediction after first Arsenal goal

Viktor Gyokeres got off the mark with his first goal for Arsenal in a 3-0 pre-season friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday – and Mikel Arteta is delighted with his new striker

Mikel Arteta is confident that Viktor Gyokeres will “destroy” Premier League defences this season after Arsenal’s new signing got off the mark. Gyokeres netted his first Gunners goal in a 3-0 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in an eye-catching performance.

The Swedish striker completed his £63.7million transfer to Arsenal at the end of July after painstaking negotiations with Sporting Lisbon. He has arrived with a lot of excitement among fans, who have been crying out for a centre-forward for the past few years.

Gyokeres opened his account with a header from Martin Zubimendi’s cross to make it 1-0 before goals from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. The Gunners open their Premier League campaign against Manchester United next weekend and Arteta fired a warning to their opponents.

“That’s his nature,” he said. “I think everything that he does – his movement, the way he times his runs, the way he predicts the next move, where the space can be and where the ball is going to land, that’s the instinct that he has and that’s why he’s scored so many goals over the past few seasons. That’s not a coincidence. That’s his ability and he’s constantly looking for it.

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“His goals, his threat, he pins both centre-backs, if you leave him with space one against one then he’s going to destroy you. So he’s going to create a lot of space for us. The moment, in any situation, there is a player there who can score a goal.”

Gyokeres pulled out his trademark mask celebration after scoring and nearly grabbed another goal, only for Unai Simon to make a stunning save from his diving header. There was some impressive link-up play to go with his goal on Saturday and Arteta is excited by what’s to come.

“That first goal is always very important and the way he took it as well, was really, really good,” he said. “We are developing certain connections with the new players. It was very good. Kai Havertz came in and I think the goal he scored was top, as well.

“Raising the level of everybody is going to really help us, because at that level, we are going to need our very best from everybody.”

Arteta now has competition for places up front after Gyokeres made the most of his 70 minutes before Havertz also got on the scoresheet late on. Asked who would start against United, the Arsenal manager replied: “It’s great to see both of them scoring. It’s a good problem to have.”

He added: “In every position now, we have a different quality, a lot of players that can play in various positions as well with a lot of versatility, bringing different kinds of qualities and threats to the team.

“So, we’re going to manage that in the best possible way to maintain everybody with the right cohesion, hunger and the fact that at any moment we can change the puzzle and make it very difficult for the opposition.”

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