Overview

• Arsenal’s new £63.5 million signing Viktor Gyökeres started at Old Trafford and was substituted after about 60 minutes without registering a single shot.
• Media and pundits delivered harsh assessments of his debut, with former manager Alan Pardew calling the performance “poor.”
• Comparisons with Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko intensified scrutiny after Sesko impressed during his own season debut cameo.
• Teammates Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino publicly praised Gyökeres’ speed, strength and goal-scoring pedigree and urged supporters to be patient.
• Disrupted exit from Sporting delayed his full pre-season integration, and manager Mikel Arteta will focus on linking play to suit his penalty-box striker style.