All eyes were on Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal started their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a win over Manchester United.
It was by no means the prettiest win Mikel Arteta has secured, but it was three points nonetheless.
Gyokeres struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford, with the only goal of the game instead coming from an unlikely source.
Riccardo Calafiori was the surprise goalscorer, scoring from a corner kick just 13 minutes into the contest, which represented one of the few chances Arsenal had in 90 minutes of play.
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Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker assess Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal only fired nine shots on goal against Man United, who recorded 22.
The numbers tell the story of a difficult game for Arsenal going forward, with Gyokeres sadly one of those to suffer as a result.
Arteta’s side failed to create anything at Old Trafford, which Gary Lineker noted was a hindrance to Gyokeres.
“It was a tough start for him, he didn’t really get a kick,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“Arsenal weren’t really free flowing at all, they were miles below their best, but they got their three points and they’ll be delighted with that. They defended really well, but they didn’t offer much going forward.
“Obviously he [Gyokeres] came off after just over an hour with barely touching the ball, but that happens for a striker sometimes.”
A figure who knows the art of being a striker more than most, Alan Shearer agreed that it was a ‘tough afternoon’ for Gyokeres.
“It was a tough afternoon for him. We can’t judge him yet; he’s going to need time to adjust.”
The pundit did, however, notice some strengths from Gyokeres’ game, but reiterated that he needs time to adapt.
“Obviously, across the ground, he looks really quick, strong and powerful, but he hardly had any touches in and around the 18-yard box. He’s going to have to get used to a different style of play.”
What Mikel Arteta said about Gyokeres’ Premier League debut
Ending his afternoon having had just 22 touches of the ball, it was a challenging outing for Gyokeres, but one that will give the striker an idea of the demands of the Premier League.
As far as debuts go, Arteta was satisfied, applauding his summer signing for doing a lot of ‘very good’ things, but noted how Arsenal have to play to his strengths.
“He did a lot of things very good. You can tell, especially in our high pressing, the rhythm that we demand, especially in the first half, we’re giving a bit too much time.
“It’s something that we have to work on, especially there. And then in the final situation, he didn’t have that many chances to do that because, as I said, on the previous action before we had to play that last ball that the line was standing still with 40 metres behind, we managed to put the ball through to exploit his quality.
“But overall, coming away to Manchester United, winning your first game with Arsenal, it’s a good start.”
It was a good start for Arsenal with three points on an afternoon that could’ve, and arguably should’ve, ended a lot differently.
The chances will come for Gyokeres, who will be delighted to have marked his Premier League debut with a win.
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