Viktor Gyokeres has endured a low-key preseason start to life at Arsenal.
The Sweden international has been handed the No.14 shirt at the Gunners after finally completing his transfer switch to North London.
A deal with Sporting CP was eventually brokered at the end of July, as part of a £63.5m package - with an up front £55m fee paid to the Portuguese giants - as Mikel Arteta landed his No.1 target.
Gyokeres, who scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP, is tasked with 'solving' Arsenal's striker question in the coming months but he will need time to get up to speed.
The exit saga in Lisbon meant he did not rejoin Rui Borges' team for preseason and he effectively did not train for two months before joining the Gunners preseason tour in Singapore.
The 27-year-old made his debut off the bench in the 1-0 friendly loss to Tottenham on July 31 and landed a first start in the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Villarreal on August 6.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
No goals, and just one shot on target against Villarreal, indicates a lack of sharpness for the striker as the countdown to the new campaign continues.
Arteta will start him against Athletic Club on August 9 in the Emirates Cup - as a final preseason test - but the next stop after that is Manchester United at Old Trafford on August 17.
Despite the small window to get match-sharp, Arteta has no doubts over his readiness to face the Red Devils.
Getty
"I think mentally, and understanding what he needs to do, he will be ready 100% or more," as per BBC Sport.
"He's so willing and confident he can deliver straight away, I have no doubts he'll be in a really good place.
"It was very important for him to start a match to have the feeling and connection with the team. He's been with us only a week or so, but I already saw a lot of things, especially the way he's attacking in certain spaces."
Gyokeres famously failed to score a Premier League in four seasons at Brighton & Hove Albion - which included two campaigns out on loan - but he scored a hat trick against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League last season before drawing a blank against Arsenal.
Arsenal news and related links
- Arsenal set for key coaching appointment
- Arteta claims multiple clubs have 'right ingredients' to win the Premier League
- Saka strikes as Arsenal begin preseason with win over AC Milan