Mikel Arteta: Arsenal to ‘assess’ Gyokeres ahead of potential debut | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that new signing Viktor Gyokeres could make his Arsenal debut against Tottenham.

Arsenal come into the first north London derby outside England off a 3-2 win against Newcastle United and a 1-0 win against Milan in Singapore.

Arsenal recently brought in Swedish striker Gyokeres for more than £60 million and he could be in line to make his first start for the club against their biggest rivals.

“I understand he’s only done today’s session and yesterday very little. We’re going to assess tonight how he is,” Arteta said.

“If the medical staff are happy as well with his condition to participate in tomorrow’s match then it’s a possibility. We’re going to discuss that tonight.”

Despite news that Gyokeres may play, Arteta confirmed that he would be missing some of his squad for the match, “And with the rest, everybody’s going to be okay apart from big Gabi (Magalhães) who is still out and Riccy (Calafiori) it’s probably going to be a bit too early for him tomorrow.”

Aside from the Swede, Arsenal have also made a number of moves in the transfer market including Martin Zubimendi, Kepa, Cristhian Mosquera, Noni Madueke and Christian Norgaard and the Spaniard says that he is happy with how it has gone but there is still more to come.

“I said that I was extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we have been.

“There’s still a long period still with the window open. So far we are very happy with what we’ve achieved and make sure at the end of the window we continue to be super happy.”

Gyokeres has taken the number 14 shirt at Arsenal – once donned by former Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Arteta has praised the strikers determination to do well at the club.

“I use the word conviction and that’s the first thing that I noticed when I spoke to him.

“Someone very determined, someone that was already really attached to the club the way he was talking about the club, the history and in this case Thierry and what the shirt represented. He straight away felt it, and when you feel it – go for it.”