Following his official unveiling to fans in Singapore, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on when supporters can expect to see new star striker Viktor Gyökeres make his debut, emphasizing the need for a cautious approach.
Arteta revealed the key reason for the delay is a lack of fitness. Due to the “tortuous” and tense negotiations with Sporting CP, Gyökeres refused to train with his former club in the final weeks leading up to the transfer. “I think he hasn’t had a single training session with the team since the last game with Sporting,” the manager noted.
The Gunners’ boss stressed that while he is eager to get his new £63.8 million signing on the pitch, the player’s physical condition is the top priority. “We’re not going to stop him, we want him with us as quick as possible,” Arteta said, “but we’ll have to assess and the medical team will do that… to get him up to speed with the right levels of fitness I think is very important.”
For his part, Gyökeres is clearly chomping at the bit to get started. In his first official interview, he told the club’s media, “To be a part of this club and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can’t wait. It will be an amazing feeling.”
Having missed Sunday’s friendly against Newcastle, all eyes now turn to the historic overseas North London Derby against Tottenham in Hong Kong on Thursday as a potential debut date for the Swedish international.
Arteta also took the opportunity to praise the club’s hierarchy, including sporting director Andrea Berta, for securing their main targets so early in the transfer window, describing their work as “absolutely fantastic.”