Overview

• Viktor Gyökeres has started in pre-season friendlies, with Arteta directing players to play more directly and target his off-the-ball runs behind defenses.
• Former defender Micah Richards praised Gyökeres’s movement and finishing but questioned his ability to hold up the ball consistently in Premier League contests.
• Gary Lineker’s earlier claim that Gyökeres had scored just three goals against Portugal’s top-half clubs was corrected after analysis showed his tally was higher.
• Arsenal are reportedly tracking Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze as a creative reinforcement to deliver the through balls Gyökeres thrives on.
• The club opted for Gyökeres’s £63 million move from Sporting CP over Benjamin Šeško and Alexander Isak, prioritizing immediate impact and fee feasibility.