Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted £64million summer signing Viktor Gyokeres will be in a ‘very good position’ by the time the Premier League season begins after his first pre-season start.
The Gunners were beaten 3-2 at home by Villarreal on Wednesday night as the big-money summer signing made his home debut at the Emirates.
Gyokeres had limited opportunities to score on his first start for the club, with the Swedish forward playing an hour of the match.
His best chance came just before he was substituted, but saw a powerful strike well saved by the Villarreal goalkeeper.
The forward had joined Arsenal following a protracted move from Sporting Lisbon, where he had scored 97 goals in 103 matches for the club.
With Gyokeres having only a brief cameo in Arsenal’s pre-season loss to Tottenham prior to his hour on Wednesday, Arteta insisted the forward will be up to speed by the time the new season starts.
‘I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team.
‘He’s been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces.
‘So in general, for a lot of players that haven’t played many minutes, we have a lot now that they’re going to be ready for Saturday in a much better condition.’
‘I hope days, and every day in training I think he’s getting a really good feeling. I think he’s getting connections as well outside, which I think is really important with players that are going to help him to get in the position that he needs to get in.
‘On his fitness level, I think he hasn’t trained really with the team for two months, so he’s done now six or five sessions I think before today, so I think on Saturday again he will take another step and he will be in a better condition.’
Arsenal will face further LaLiga opposition on Saturday when they host Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup, before their Premier League opener away at Man United on August 17.
The Gunners will hope to have Kai Havertz available again after he missed the defeat by Villarreal with a minor injury.
Arteta also offered praised to 15-year-old academy star Max Dowman for his ‘incredible’ attacking contributions after another eye-catching pre-season performance.
With Arsenal trailing 3-1, Dowman showed quick feet to fool a Villareal defender and induce a foul, resulting in the Gunners being awarded a penatly.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard acknowledged Dowman’s contribution after scoring the penalty to reduce the deficit.
It was the second penalty Dowman has won in pre-season after help Arsenal win 3-2 against Newcastle on their tour of Asia.
The highly-rated youngster also drew the attention of home fans were several darting runs and crosses in the latter stages of the friendly against Villarreal.
Arteta praised the youngster and admitted that despite his young age he will continue to deserve chances if he continues to make an impact from the bench.
‘Max (Dowman) is moving so fast – even last year when he was training with us, he was doing these kind of things and now he is doing them in the games,’ Arteta said.
‘The efficiency he shows in every attacking action is incredible. He deserves to have chances and if he continues like this let’s see what happens.
When asked whether Dowman could be involved in the Premier League, Arteta added ‘Let’s see how it goes, let’s go into Saturday, into the break as well.
‘He needs a little break as well because he hasn’t had any holidays really, so in the next few days he’s going to have a break which I think he needs and then he’ll probably be ready again to go.’
