GYOK & AWE

THERE is obviously no such thing as a £63.5million bargain.

But if Viktor Gyokeres can continue to score goals like he did in this 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, keep bullying defences and generally be a complete pain in the backside for opposing defenders, then Arsenal will have delivered one of the signings of the summer.

Martin Odegaard lifted the Emirates Cup but with Gyokeres in the team, maybe they will actually secure something more significant.

The new arrival from Sporting Lisbon delivered his trademark mask celebration after scoring his first goal, a terrific glancing header, and he received a standing ovation when being replaced in the 70th minute.

Remarkably, in the Portuguese top flight last season, Gyokeres scored 39 goals and not one of them was with his head.

While no one should have got too worried about his iffy performance in Wednesday’s 3-2 Emirates Cup loss to Villarreal, where he touched the ball just 14 times in a 62-minute run-out, Arsenal’s fans will not be getting completely carried away by Gyokeres’ hugely-encouraging performance against the Spaniards.

But the signs are decent. As they also are for Martin Zubimendi, another new arrival who slotted next to Declan Rice in central midfield and looks as though he has been playing there for ages.

Zubimendi, a £51m arrival from Real Sociedad, not only produced the first-time cross which led to Gyokeres’ goal but barely put a foot wrong.

Another new arrival, £55m winger Noni Madueke, was also given a 45-minute run-out in the second half.

He might have received plenty of stick from the keyboard warriors because he is another signing from Chelsea but he looks to have blocked out the noise and was a real threat.

So, where are Arsenal ahead of the opening game of the season in what will be a difficult trip to Manchester United?

It will take time for the new signings to gel but because of their testing opening fixtures, Mikel Arteta’s team needs to hit the ground running.

Arteta’s starting XI will not be far off his opening team for United away, although one issue is whether to start Jurrien Timber at right-back or Ben White, who replaced him at half-time.

With Gabriel Magalhaes starting alongside William Saliba, unsurprisingly, they looked far more organised at the back than they did against Villarreal.

But going forward, they were much more of a threat. Gyokeres missed a good chance when he did not get enough power on his shot and keeper Unai Simon had an easy save to make.

Yet crucially, the former Coventry forward did not let his head drop which is a sign of a mentally-strong player.

There was a wonderful moment when he collected a pass from Gabriel Martinelli, dropped a shoulder, sent Jesus Areso sliding to the ground and then teed up a chance for Riccardo Calafiori – but his finish was awful.

Yet it did not take long for Gyokeres to make his mark and expertly positioned himself in front of two opposing defenders to connect to a perfect delivery from Zubimendi.

The Swede also played a part in the build-up to the second goal with Bukayo Saka – who was also excellent – finishing a super-quick move which tore Bilbao apart.

Gyokeres thought he had scored again but sent a thumping header against the post following a pinpoint cross from Madueke who will have been pleased with his performance after the disgusting abuse directed from some Arsenal fans typing away in their bedrooms.

Gyokeres left the pitch to a standing ovation to be replaced by Kai Havertz who showed plenty of strength in scoring a cracking individual goal for the third. – Sun