Viktor Gyokeres upstaged by Arsenal team-mate as Mikel Arteta drops exciting hint

Viktor Gyokeres opened his account for Arsenal in their final pre-season friendly but it was another new arrival who stole the show. The north Londoners cruised to a one-sided victory over Athletic Bilbao with the Swedish striker among the goals. The result means Arsenal will carry positive momentum into next weekend's Premier League opener against Manchester United.

Gyokeres only needed 34 minutes to score his first goal for Arsenal, diverting a header into the back of the net. Bukayo Saka doubled their lead just two minutes later before Kai Havertz added a third in the closing stages. While many fans were left delighted with Gyokeres' clinical display, another Arsenal player was arguably even better.

Martin Zubimendi was handed his first start at the Emirates Stadium and looked completely at home in the middle of the park. He was paired with Declan Rice, which is likely to be the case when Arsenal travel to Old Trafford next weekend.

The young Spaniard completed 94 per cent of his passes and was successful with all but one of his long ball attempts. He was rewarded for his creativity with an assist, setting up Gyokeres for the opening goal of the match.

Zubimendi was also solid without the ball, completing more successful tackles than any other player on the pitch. He won 80 per cent of his ground duels and nobody managed to dribble past him for the duration of the game.

The former Real Sociedad man will be expected to maintain the same level when the Premier League season gets underway. He recently spoke of his admiration for Arteta, who worked tirelessly to bring him to Arsenal amid competition from Liverpool.

"I don't know what he saw in me, but I saw him as one of the top coaches in Europe," said Zubimendi last month. "At the end of the day, I wanted a quality coach when I left Real Sociedad. I think I've found him.

"In the few days I've been here, I've seen how meticulous he is about every aspect of the game, so I think he's the one. I think I'm going to try to do things I didn't do before. I'll try to bring balance and provide that passing outlet that I'm known for."

Zubimendi also underlined his desire to win trophies with Arsenal, who have not lifted major silverware since they last won the FA Cup in 2020.

"The most important thing about this club is that they learn from previous seasons," he continued. "I think the lessons they've learned from how last season ended will be key to getting even closer to this year's targets.

"Ultimately, I believe that football comes down to details, especially in the Champions League. In that semi-final, Arsenal were the only team in that semi-final who truly stood up to PSG and they let it slip because of minor details."

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