Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confirms whether Viktor Gyokeres will make his debut against Tottenham

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·30 de julho de 2025

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confirms whether Viktor Gyokeres will make his debut against Tottenham

Gunners face north London rivals Spurs in Hong Kong on Thursday

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Mikel Arteta suggested Viktor Gyokeres could make his Arsenal debut against Tottenham on Thursday.

Gyokeres completed his move to Arsenal from Sporting last Saturday as part of a deal worth an initial £54.4million.

The Sweden striker underwent a medical and signed his contract in London before immediately flying out to join Arsenal on their pre-season tour in Singapore.

Gyokeres was paraded in front of fans on Sunday and watched from the stands as the Gunners beat Newcastle 3-2.

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

The 27-year-old then trained with his new team-mates on Tuesday before Arsenal flew out to Hong Kong, where they are taking on Tottenham on Thursday.

Gyokeres missed pre-season training at Sporting as he tried to force through a move to Arsenal and Arteta said last week that the medical staff needed to assess him.

Asked if the striker could make his debut against Spurs, Arteta said: “He has only done today's session and yesterday very little.

“We are going to assess tonight where he is. If the medical staff are pleased with his condition it is possible."

Gyokeres will wear the No14 shirt for Arsenal, following in the footsteps of the club’s all-time record goalscorer Thierry Henry.

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

“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.”

Arsenal will return back to the UK after the match for their final two matches of pre-season.

Arteta’s side host Villarreal on August 6, before taking on Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup three days later.

The serious business then begins on August 17 when Arsenal begin their Premier League campaign with a blockbuster trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.