Viktor Gyokeres is already making waves in North London as he begins to settle into life at Arsenal, showing signs of becoming a pivotal figure in their attack. The £64 million signing wore the red and white for the first time at the Emirates during a pre-season friendly against Villarreal, and although the match ended in a 3-2 defeat, the spotlight was firmly on the Swedish striker.
The buzz was evident even before kick-off, as the Emirates erupted in applause when Gyokeres’ name was read out. His presence injected excitement into the atmosphere, drawing comparisons to the reception of prodigious 15-year-old Max Dowman. Gyokeres played over an hour, demonstrating hunger, movement, and the willingness to press qualities that signal promise for the season ahead.
Despite limited training time after his summer move from Sporting Lisbon, Gyokeres showed glimpses of why Arsenal pursued him so aggressively. His fitness is still a work in progress, having only completed a handful of sessions with the squad, but he is steadily building up ahead of the Premier League curtain-raiser at Old Trafford on August 17.
Manager Mikel Arteta highlighted the importance of Gyokeres starting early and connecting with the team. The tactical approach in the Villarreal game suggested a shift in Arsenal’s attacking play, with teammates feeding the ball into the box more often, clearly adapting to the presence of a traditional No. 9. Gyokeres nearly opened his account with a few chances a sharp cross, a wayward attempt, and a saved shot showing he’s getting into the right positions.
Arteta expressed confidence that the striker’s adaptation will happen quickly, noting his positive energy and how he’s already building relationships with teammates on and off the pitch. With one final friendly against Athletic Bilbao still to come, Gyokeres is expected to take another step forward in fitness and chemistry.
As Arsenal prepares for a tough season opener at Old Trafford, the focus will be on whether Gyokeres can translate these early flashes into goals. For a team chasing silverware for the first time since 2020, the hope is that the Swede could be the missing link in Arsenal’s title push.
