Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club: Gyökeres, Havertz & Saka score to seal Emirates Cup

Viktor Gyokeres scored his first goal for Arsenal as the Gunners finished their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 victory against Athletic Club.

Match Report

Gyokeres' first Arsenal start against Villarreal ended without a goal and in defeat in midweek, but Arsenal's new £63.5m striker was all smiles on his second Emirates appearance.

There was anticipation every time he got the ball and the Gunners supporters were willing an early shot into the corner of the net after he was teed up by Bukayo Saka. However, Gyokeres fluffed his lines and his weak strike was easily saved by Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon.

He wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

Teed up by the impressive Martin Zubimendi, Gyokeres emphatically headed an inch-perfect cross past Simon before pulling out his trademark celebration for the first time in Arsenal colours, much to the delight of the home fans.

They were celebrating again just two minutes later. Gyokores, who showed flashes of brilliant link-up play through the afternoon, cushioned the ball into the path of Declan Rice, who clipped the ball forward and into the path of Martinelli. Simon came rushing out of his goal and got caught out of position, which allowed Martinelli to set up Saka for a tap-in.

After the break, Arsenal introduced Noni Madueke but it was Gyokeres who continued to shine as he settled into his new surroundings in north London.

A deft touch after using his strength to get hold of the ball released Saka before a couple of runs into the channels were picked out by passes as the combination play between Gyokeres and his new team-mates continued to build.

He almost capped a perfect afternoon with a second goal as he dived to meet Madueke's cross. His header was heading for the bottom corner until Simon's fine save diverted the ball onto the post and away to safety.

It was one of Gyokeres' final actions before being replaced by Kai Havertz on 70 minutes.

No Gyokeres, no problem for Arsenal as Havertz rounded off a fine afternoon for the Gunners.

The German showed an excellent turn of foot to race across the halfway line and onto a loose ball before charging into the box, holding off a final challenge and firing a low shot across Simon and into the bottom corner to send Arsenal into the new season on a high.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' Berchiche is booked yellow as he brings down Gyokeres

6' Saka breaks in but his shot from a narrow angle is denied

10' Martinelli tries a shot but it's off target!

16' Calafiori almost makes a mistake but De Galaretta's effort is saved by Raya

20' Gyökeres right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved

25' Robert Navarro replaces Unai Gómez because of an injury

30' Rice's attempt from the corner hits the crossbar and goes wide

31' Calafiori takes a shot but it goes high

35' GOAL! Gyokeres heads home as Zubimendi assists! Arsenal 1-0 Athletic Club

37' 2 goals in 2 minutes! Saka extends the lead! Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club

46' Ben White and Madueke are on for Calafiori and Martinelli

52' Timber's header from a very close range is high off the bar

61' Gyokeres dives to head home but his effort hits the post

70' Gyokeres is replaced by Havertz

77' Havertz's effort from a close range is saved

83' GOAL! Havertz slots the ball into the bottom corner! Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ødegaard, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Martín Zubimendi, Martinelli, Saliba, Saka, Timber, Calafiori

Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Zinchenko, Merino, Nelson, Havertz, Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Kiwior, Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Nwaneri, Alexéi Rojas, Lewis-Skelly

Athletic Club XI: Berchiche, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Lekue, I.Williams, Berenguer, Unai Simón, Jesús Areso, Dani Vivian, Nico Williams, Unai Gómez, Mikel Jauregizar

Subs: Gorosabel, Vesga, Gorka Guruzeta, Robert Navarro, Nico Serrano, Álex Padilla, Alejandro Rego, Urko Izeta, Jon de Luis, Adama Boiro, Maroan Sannadi