After Arsenal’s 3-2 victory over Newcastle United in Singapore the major talking point was not just the result but the unveiling and arrival of Viktor Gyökeres the Swedish striker who signed for the club late on Saturday and was presented to fans on the pitch before kickoff Mikel Arteta faced the media after the final whistle and unsurprisingly most of the questions were about the club’s new number nine and how his presence is expected to influence the upcoming season and reshape Arsenal’s attacking approach Arteta said the club is absolutely delighted to have signed Gyökeres and he emphasized
the importance of adding not just quality but also depth to the squad he said that every window they aim to improve not just one area but the entire team structure and with Viktor’s arrival they have taken another important step forward Arteta noted that the process to bring him to Arsenal was not easy and took a lot of time but from the first conversation with Viktor it was clear to him that the player had a strong desire to join Arsenal he said Viktor was extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity and left no doubt where he wanted to be which for a
manager is a crucial indicator of the player’s mindset Arteta praised the atmosphere in the squad saying that Viktor’s presence has already created a buzz within the team and the players are excited to have him join their journey Arteta also spoke about how the club’s recruitment process worked for this deal without revealing specific details he explained that signing a player like Viktor involves a group effort including the owners the board the sporting director the scouting
department and himself they all had to be aligned on the target and Arteta was pleased that the club was able to act decisively and complete the transfer early in the window which he believes gives the team more time to integrate new players into the system Arteta especially praised Andrea and the scouting department for doing what he called a fantastic job and said that having the reinforcements secured so early gives them a real advantage heading into the season as for whether Gyökeres will play in the next pre-season match against
Tottenham Hotspur Arteta was measured in his response he explained that Viktor has not had a single training session with the group since his last competitive match with Sporting and while all the medicals have been completed and the player is in good condition they will still need to assess his readiness in terms of match fitness Arteta was clear that they want him to be part of the group as soon as possible but also stressed the importance of managing his workload to avoid any setbacks the.
manager’s tone suggested that while Gyökeres is eager to get started and the club is equally eager to see him on the pitch they will take a responsible approach to his integration Arteta also touched on the potential impact Gyökeres could have both on and off the pitch and said that the club hopes he will be one of several key players to make a significant contribution this summer he said that new arrivals like him create internal excitement and drive competitiveness within the squad which is essential for building a winning mentality he added that these types of signings also
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energize the fanbase and contribute to the electric atmosphere at the Emirates which he sees as a critical part of the team’s success when asked whether the club was still looking to add more players before the end of the transfer window Arteta kept the door open he said that the market is still active and although they have already strengthened well they will continue to look for opportunities and weigh them against the needs of the squad balance flexibility and quality remain their priorities in this regard in addition to speaking about Gyökeres Arteta also reflected on the performance of Max Dowman the 15-year-old who came off the bench against Newcastle and impressed during his brief spell on the pitch Arteta described Dowman’s contribution as
something special and said that doing what he did against a top team like Newcastle is incredibly rare for a player of his age he was full of praise for the youngster and credited the people around him including his family and academy staff for creating the right environment that has allowed him to progress so quickly Arteta said the club will continue to support Max’s development carefully and he seems to believe the teenager could have a real future at Arsenal when asked about why Mosquera was not in the squad against Newcastle Arteta explained that the player needs time to get back to his best physical and mental
condition he said that after playing in the Under-21 Euros and a delay in training with Valencia the player has had a disjointed preparation and now needs time to adapt to the new environment the intensity of the sessions and the tactical information being given Arteta said they will manage his integration gradually to avoid injuries and ensure he understands what’s required in his new role Arteta also provided an update on Calafiori who was taken off with a potential injury during the match he said that the
defender reported a small tweak and they’re hopeful it’s not serious but they will wait for the medical team’s evaluation before making any decisions on his involvement in upcoming matches the manager also took a moment to highlight the performance of Zubimendi who featured prominently in midfield against Newcastle Arteta said that given the kind of pressure Newcastle apply especially in the midfield zone Zubimendi handled it all with impressive composure and tactical intelligence he praised the Spaniard’s ability to read situations quickly execute at high speed and adapt whether he had space to work with or not Arteta said that these qualities are rare and very valuable
particularly for a central midfielder who needs to link both defense and attack efficiently Arteta commented on the overall physical nature of the match despite it being labeled a friendly he said he doesn’t view these matches as simple tune-ups but rather as real opportunities to test and raise the team’s competitive level he said there are certain physical goals to meet during pre-season but also psychological and tactical lessons to learn he was pleased with the team’s fighting spirit and mentality saying that they approached the game with a strong will to win regardless of what was at stake and that kind of mindset will be crucial as they head into a long and demanding season finally Arteta was asked about Gyökeres’ well-known ability from the penalty spot the Swedish striker has a reputation for being clinical from twelve yards and Arteta
acknowledged this but also noted that the club already has several top-level penalty takers he said that he’s confident Viktor will step up when given the opportunity but also added that the players often sort these things out among themselves and if necessary he will make the final decision the overall tone from Arteta was one of excitement but also caution as he repeatedly stressed the need for balance and careful planning when integrating new players he clearly believes the squad is growing
stronger both technically and mentally and he appears confident that the club is on the right track heading into the new campaign he made it clear that the goal is to create an elite environment full of competition passion and unity and the addition of Viktor Gyökeres alongside the development of young talents like Max Dowman is evidence of that strategy in motion Arteta left the room smiling proud of the win encouraged by the new arrivals and fully focused on what lies ahead as Arsenal continue their preparations for a season that promises to be full of expectation challenge and opportunity
