'He's going to destroy you': Arteta heaps praise on new recruit Gyokeres

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lavished praises on the club's new big-money signing Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first goal for the Gunners in their 3-0 win over La Liga side Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season friendly.  

Gyokeres, who moved to the North London club from Sporting CP in the summer window, lasted 71 minutes on the pitch in his debut and scored with a stunning header from a cross from Martin Zubimendi. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz scored the other two goals.

Arteta highly praised the 27-year-old striker, saying, "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, where the space can be and where the ball is going to land, that's the instinct that he has. 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.

"I think he pins both centre-backs. He's a player that, when you leave him with the 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 there is the moment that, in any situation, there is a player there that can score a goal," the Spanish coach added.

Arteta was also happy to see both the strikers in his squad, Gyokeres and Havertz, among goals.

"They can play together. Kai can play in different positions, as well. I think it elevates the quality in the squad, the goal threat that we have in the team, the options that we have to change and provide oppositions with a lot of problems. It is great to see both of them scoring, both of them in such good form and it's a good problem to have."

Arsenal will kick off their campaign in the 2025-26 season with an away fixture at Manchester United on August 17.