'It will be different' – Mikel Arteta certain Viktor Gyokeres will improve after Swedish striker makes underwhelming Arsenal debut in defeat to Tottenham

Mikel Arteta was optimistic about what is to come for Viktor Gyokeres after the new Arsenal striker made his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

  • Gyokeres made Gunners debut in Hong Kong
  • 77th minute cameo off the bench
  • Arteta defended the striker after loss

'It will be different' - Mikel Arteta certain Viktor Gyokeres will improve after Swedish striker makes underwhelming Arsenal debut in defeat to Tottenham'It will be different' - Mikel Arteta certain Viktor Gyokeres will improve after Swedish striker makes underwhelming Arsenal debut in defeat to Tottenham'It will be different' - Mikel Arteta certain Viktor Gyokeres will improve after Swedish striker makes underwhelming Arsenal debut in defeat to Tottenham

Gyokeres came on for a brief cameo in the 77th minute as lost 1-0 to their bitter north London rivals in Hong Kong. Pape Sarr scored the winner from near the half-way line but Gyokeres had just two touches on his debut for his new side, reported Sky Sports.

Gyokeres signed for Arsenal in a £63.5 million ($84m) deal after a long-winded transfer saga which involved a major stand-off between the international and former club . Arteta finally got his man and will look forward to the new season with one of Europe’s most prolific strikers leading the line. His debut may not have been ideal, but the best is surely still to come.

Arteta said in his post-match press conference: “Really happy obviously to have [debutants Gyokeres and Cristhian Mosquera] here, I think they’re going to have a lot of value. You see this right away, as well as the energy and the quality that they’re going to bring. It was a short one but at least that one is off now and when they play against now, I’m sure it will be a bit different.”

Arsenal’s season kicks off with a trip to Manchester on August 17, where Gyokeres will hope to make more of a lasting impression than he did on his pre-season bow. The Gunners have two remaining against Villarreal and Athletic Club to get more minutes in their legs before then.