14-touch Arsenal player may have just changed Mikel Arteta’s transfer plans after Villarreal loss

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Arsenal welcomed Villarreal to the Emirates Stadium in their latest pre-season test.

Mikel Arteta’s side fell two goals behind in the first half after some sloppy defending allowed the Spanish side to take charge of the game – former Gunner Nicolas Pepe was on the scoresheet.

The impressive Christian Norgaard reduced the arrears just before half time as he headed home a deep corner from Gabriel Martinelli.

Villarreal made it 3-1 on the counter attack before a late Martin Odegaard penalty was not enough to prevent a second successive defeat.

It was another display that lacked a cutting edge in the final third from Arsenal and one player’s performance in particular has highlighted the need for further additions this summer.

READ MORE: Andrea Berta has changed his mind about selling £20m Arsenal player, ‘his stock has risen’

Viktor Gyokeres frustration shows Arsenal need more creativity

Viktor Gyokeres made his full debut for the Gunners and played just over an hour on his first appearance on home soil.

Arsenal fans were impressed with Gyokeres during a warm up drill where the Swede demonstrated the power in his finishing.

However, that was as good as it got for the new signing as he was kept unbelievably quiet during the game, mustering just 14 touches.

Any opportunity he had in the first half he had to create for himself, drifting out to the left flank on a couple of occasions to try and cut in for a shot.

Mikel Merino set him free inside the box at the start of the second half but Gyokeres saw his strike saved from a tight angle.

Overall, the striker was starved of any real service and alarm bells must be ringing in Arteta’s head. Arsenal will know there is no point signing a £63m forward if they can’t create chances for him.

Arsenal need to match Liverpool with Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo signings

Liverpool have strengthened in a number of areas this summer and look to be favourites to retain their Premier League crown.

Andrea Berta is now concentrating on player sales in order to balance the books, but the sporting director must be looking to secure further attacking options for the Gunners.

The last two pre-season clashes have further highlighted the problem Arsenal have in creating chances and targets such as Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo would help solve that.

There is a real lack of penetration and inventiveness in the final third, everything seems too predictable and it needs to be fixed immediately.