Arsenal’s highly-anticipated summer signing, Viktor Gyökeres, had a quiet first outing in the famous red and white jersey, as he failed to find the back of the net during his debut match. The Swedish forward, who arrived with a hefty price tag and plenty of expectation, was introduced late in a pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur but struggled to make an impact in his brief cameo.
Despite barely touching the ball and managing only a single attempt at goal, manager Mikel Arteta was quick to throw his support behind the new signing. Arteta praised Gyökeres’ attitude and suggested that the best is yet to come from the former Sporting CP striker. “It’s early days,” he said. “Once he settles into our rhythm, you’ll see the quality we signed him for.”
His first start came shortly after against Villarreal, but again, Gyökeres found himself isolated up front with limited service. Fans have already pointed to Arsenal’s midfield disconnect as a factor, arguing that the Swede needs better link-up play to thrive. Still, Gyökeres showed glimpses of his strength and movement off the ball, signs that promise more to come.
With the Premier League opener fast approaching, Arsenal supporters will be hoping their new number 14 rediscovers the lethal form he showed in Portugal. While the goals haven’t arrived yet, there’s a growing belief within the club that Gyökeres will soon prove why he was one of Europe’s most coveted forwards this summer.
