Despite not scoring on his full Arsenal debut, Viktor Gyokeres has given the team something to 'build on'", says teammate Bukayo Saka. The England international is confident that the £64million striker Gyokores possesses all the qualities of a top-notch centre forward and is already acclimatising to his new environment.
The 27-year-old failed to register a single shot on target and was substituted off after making his first Premier League start for Arsenal against Manchester United. This left many supporters questioning his match readiness and fitness, as the Swedish international has only completed two weeks of full training following his drawn-out transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
Gyokores represents a significant risk for the Gunners; he was a prolific scorer at Sporting but has yet to prove himself in a top-tier league, and now finds himself under scrutiny at Arsenal.
However, Saka is certain about his new teammate's abilities and believes Gyokores will be prepared for the physical demands of the Premier League. He explained: "I was impressed with him and he battled for us. It was tough. There was a big battle up there. I thought he did well.
"His performance gives us something to build on and I am sure it will help him next week. He has slotted in well and so have the other guys."
Arsenal have embarked on a substantial summer spending spree over the past few months, splurging vast sums on Gyokores, Martin Zubimendi for £51m, and Noni Madueke for £52m. Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard - who was absent from the United match due to a minor injury - and substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga have also been added to their squad, significantly bolstering their bench.
However, it remains to be seen whether they possess the necessary star quality to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title. Their triumph at Old Trafford was a clear sign of their resilience, and securing a victory at United - despite not performing at their peak - provides reason for optimism. Saka candidly acknowledged Arsenal's shortcomings and is aware that they must step up their game against Leeds on Saturday, with their next away fixture being against Liverpool.
He concluded: "It was not a great performance. We are happy with the three points, to come away from Old Trafford with a win. We were not up to our usual standards, the basics, sloppy giveaways. Our decision making was not great and that cost us and gave United a lot of momentum. We did not get punished for it but we cannot do it every game."
This article originally appeared on Mirror