Arsenal’s final pre-season game saw the Gunners beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0, with both Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz scoring.
There has been huge focus on the new signing, and perhaps little on the German international who finished last season as the club’s top scorer. In conversation with the press, Mikel Arteta said both players can help the team drive forward and reach new levels.
Gyokeres headed Arsenal in front before Bukayo Saka doubled the lead, then in the second half Havertz scored an impressive breakaway goal to seal the victory.
Speaking afterwards, the Arsenal boss said, “That first goal is always very important, the way he took it as well, really well.
“So again I think we have some big performances, we’re developing certain connections as well.
“With the new players very good, Kai coming in as well, the goal he scored I think was top as well so everybody, raising the level of everybody is going to really help us because at that level we’re going to need our very best from everybody.”
A key feature of today’s game was the ‘first choice’ midfield trio of Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice behind the front three. Arteta was asked about their influence and said, “With the qualities that they have and the way they can complement each other in that space, we saw another evolution today on that and things that the team can really benefit from to be much more unpredictable and be a much more threat, especially from these inside positions.
“I think having everybody involved at their best, that’s what we want and then we’re going to have to start with 11 players and other players are going to have to impact the game.
“At the end they’re going to have to earn it on that pitch with every day, with their behaviour, the quality and the connection that they show with the team and it’s exactly what we need.
“We never had the demands that we have this season in terms of the competition we have to play and the amount of games already that these guys have to play.
“So it’s very much needed, nothing different to any of the top teams in this country, nothing different.”
