Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac offered a surprising vote of confidence to Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Gunners slumped to a 3-2 friendly defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Despite Gyokeres scoring a second-half penalty, the Sweden international looked off the pace in his second pre-season outing, drawing criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Kovac's unexpected praise for Gyokeres
When asked if any Arsenal players had caught his eye, Kovac singled out Gyokeres for praise, saying: 'There are a lot of top players. When you see Gyokeres, he is strong, he is quick, he is fast, he is very direct. We know him very well, but I can mention all the players.'
The 28-year-old forward, who joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon earlier this summer, had a disappointing display against Real Betis last week in his first appearance since the World Cup. Despite the criticism, Kovac's comments suggest he sees significant potential in the Swedish striker.
Arteta backs new signing Bruno Guimaraes
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has thrown his support behind new signing Bruno Guimaraes, who was introduced to fans before the match after completing a £75 million move from Newcastle United. The Brazil midfielder has signed a four-year deal and bolsters a star-studded midfield that already includes Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze.
Arteta told the club website: 'You can see the immediate reaction. I think he describes himself as a warrior. I think he's a warrior with tremendous quality as well, and intuition and leadership and charisma that is going to help us, that is going to really ignite something different in the team. I think he's going to push everybody inside the team as well, and that's the type of player that we need.'
Arsenal's pre-season struggles
The defeat marked Arsenal's second consecutive pre-season loss, following a 2-1 reversal against Real Betis. The Gunners have now conceded six goals in their last two friendlies, raising concerns about their defensive solidity ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Arteta will be hoping that Guimaraes can provide the midfield stability and leadership that the team has been lacking, while Gyokeres will need to find his form quickly to justify his hefty price tag.
Looking ahead
Arsenal face further pre-season tests before the Premier League season kicks off, with fans eager to see how the new signings gel. The club has also been linked with a £100 million move for Liverpool's Luis Diaz, which could further strengthen their attacking options.
Guimaraes, 28, brings a wealth of experience from his time at Newcastle and Lyon, and his arrival has been met with excitement among the Arsenal faithful. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on whether Arteta can mould this talented squad into title contenders.
