Arsenal’s sixth signing of the season, Viktor Gyokeres will get his full Arsenal debut as the Gunners takes on Spanish side Villareal at the Emirates stadium. Softfootball will be watching every action as the game unfolds in London.
Gyokeres made his action appearance in an Arsenal shirt against the club’s neighbours, Tottenham Hotspurs in the preseason game played in Hong Kong where Arsenal were undone a Pape Sarr goal. Gyokeres was brought on late on in the game as the Gunners tried to salvage something from the game.
Gyokeres was got by Arsenal after long weeks of tussle with Sporting CP but they finally landed the striker target with a price of 64m. He was first unvieled to fans in Singapore just before Arsenal defeated Newcastle in 3-2 in their second preseason game and tour of the Asia.
The Swedish striker who is wearing Arsenal’s historic number -14 has a big task on his shoulders to replicate what Thierry Henry did with the number. Although Gyokeres himself has got the reputation of banging goals in as he netted 97 times in 102 matches for Sporting.
Gyokeres was criticized on social media after the Arsenal 1-0 loss to Tottenham as rival fans made comments of a non influential first outing. The striker now has a new chance to prove doubters wrong today.
Others players deployed by Mikel Arteta for this game include his number 1, David Raya. Wailliam Saliba and Jakub Kiwior continue to partner in defense as Ben White continue to deputize for Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal’s star player for the past seasons, Bukayo Saka and Brazil star, Gabriel Martinelli completes the attacking trio for the Gunners.
Arsenal will face their former player, Nicolas Pepe who now plays for Villareal. Pepe joined the Gunners in 2019 and left in 2023 scoring 16 times.
Arsenal play Villareal by 6pm GMT+1 as they begin the Emirates Cup.
Here is the line up according to Arsenal website
Starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Timber, Gabriel, Mosquera, Zinchenko, Lokonga, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Madueke, Rice, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.
