Viktor Gyokeres Makes His Mark: Arsenal Debut Performance Against Tottenham Analyzed
Arsenal fans have been buzzing with anticipation for the last five days since Viktor Gyökeres's £63.5 million signing was officially announced.
The 27-year-old striker, who turned down Manchester United to join Arsenal, was brought in to address the club's striker concerns and made his debut appearance in red during Thursday's pre-season north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Gyökeres came on as a second-half replacement in Arsenal's disappointing 1–0 loss to Spurs and received enthusiastic cheers from the Arsenal supporters at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, his maiden outing didn't unfold as hoped.
Here's an assessment of Gyökeres's performance in his first appearance.
Viktor Gyökeres vs. Tottenham
Even though Arsenal were behind at halftime, Mikel Arteta chose not to bring on Gyökeres right after the break. The Spanish manager waited until the 78th minute to give the Swedish striker his first chance in Arsenal colors.
Predictably, Gyökeres couldn't make an impact during his short stint, as Arsenal struggled offensively throughout the match. It was a typical challenge for the Gunners, who couldn't penetrate a Tottenham defense revitalized under Thomas Frank's guidance.
Ultimately, Gyökeres registered just two touches in his debut, with only one occurring inside Spurs' penalty box. He completed two passes overall and remained largely invisible as Arsenal frantically sought an equalizer. The disappointing afternoon for the Gunners was equally frustrating for the former Sporting CP forward.
Gyökeres will now head back to England with his new teammates and will be hoping to secure more playing time in Arsenal's upcoming pre-season matches.
When Will Viktor Gyökeres Play for Arsenal Next?
Arsenal's match against Tottenham concluded their pre-season Asian tour, but the Gunners still have more friendly fixtures ahead. They return home for encounters with Spanish clubs Villarreal (Aug. 6) and Athletic Club (Aug. 9), giving Gyökeres his first chance to play before the Emirates Stadium faithful.
The Scandinavian goal scorer will then get the chance to make his official Arsenal debut on August 17 when the Gunners visit Manchester United for their Premier League season opener.