Arsenal will not be happy with how their 2024/25 season panned out. They finished a distant 10 points behind eventual winners Liverpool. They were also beaten 3-1 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-final against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. Ahead of the new season, Mikel Arteta has strengthened his squad by signing Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke, among others. In his pre-match press conference before the Premier League season opener against Manchester United, Arteta provided key updates on players, including Gyokeres and Zubimendi.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Set for August 17
Mikel Arteta Provides Updates on Viktor Gyokeres & Others
Arsenal will be eager to close the gap on Liverpool and overhaul the current champions. Arteta’s men will be eager to start the season in style. At the pre-match presser, Arteta intially spoke about the availability of key squad player Leandro Trossard: “I think he’s much better,” Arteta explained. “I think he will be able to train again tomorrow and if that’s the case, he will be fit.”
Attention quickly turned to the availability of summer signings Gyokeres and Zubimendi: “[Viktor’s] getting better and better every day,” Arteta said. “He’s normally a really fit player. It’s true that he hasn’t trained so much with us. He had those two moments in games when he’s participated and the feeling was very good. So let’s see what we do on Sunday.
“[On Zubi], he had a great integration. As everybody can see this immediately, a very big impact on the team. I’m really happy and he will be fit.”
Manchester United vs Arsenal
At Old Trafford on August 17, these old rivals will once again lock horns. The availability updates are mainly positive from Arteta. It seems fair to assume that Gyokeres may start the game on the bench, but it looks almost certain that Spanish midfielder Zubimendi will begin the game in Manchester.