Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club: Viktor Gyokeres off the mark for Gunners who end pre-season with emphatic win

Viktor Gyokeres scored his first goal for Arsenal as the Gunners finished their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 victory against Athletic Club.

Gyokeres’ first Arsenal start against Villarreal ended without a goal and in defeat in midweek, but Arsenal’s new £63.5m striker was all smiles on his second Emirates appearance.

There was anticipation every time he got the ball and the Gunners supporters were willing an early shot into the corner of the net after he was teed up by Bukayo Saka. However, Gyokeres fluffed his lines and his weak strike was easily saved by Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon.

He wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

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Teed up by the impressive Martin Zubimendi, Gyokeres emphatically headed an inch-perfect cross past Simon before pulling out his trademark celebration for the first time in Arsenal colours, much to the delight of the home fans.

They were celebrating again just two minutes later. Gyokores, who showed flashes of brilliant link-up play through the afternoon, cushioned the ball into the path of Declan Rice, who clipped the ball forward and into the path of Martinelli. Simon came rushing out of his goal and got caught out of position, which allowed Martinelli to set up Saka for a tap-in.

Image: Bukayo Saka celebrates after doubling Arsenal’s lead against Athletic Club

After the break, Arsenal introduced Noni Madueke but it was Gyokeres who continued to shine as he settled into his new surroundings in north London.

A deft touch after using his strength to get hold of the ball released Saka before a couple of runs into the channels were picked out by passes as the combination play between Gyokeres and his new team-mates continued to build.

He almost capped a perfect afternoon with a second goal as he dived to meet Madueke’s cross. His header was heading for the bottom corner until Simon’s fine save diverted the ball onto the post and away to safety.

Image: Gyokeres almost got a second goal but was denied by the woodwork

It was one of Gyokeres’ final actions before being replaced by Kai Havertz on 70 minutes.

No Gyokeres, no problem for Arsenal as Havertz rounded off a fine afternoon for the Gunners.

The German showed an excellent turn of foot to race across the halfway line and onto a loose ball before charging into the box, holding off a final challenge and firing a low shot across Simon and into the bottom corner to send Arsenal into the new season on a high.