Arsenal defender William Saliba has admitted “it’s scary” to play against new signing Viktor Gyokeres. The striker finally completed his move to Arsenal on Saturday evening after so much speculation regarding a transfer from Sporting CP in recent months.
Saliba and Arsenal did in fact come up against Gyokeres during last season’s Champions League league phase, a match the north London club won 5-1 in Lisbon. The ex-Coventry City man did not score that evening but he finished the campaign with 54 goals in 52 games, taking his total for Sporting to 97 in his two seasons with the club.
Gyokeres will now be hoping to record similar numbers at Arsenal and help lead the team to the titles they are desperate to achieve. Saliba believes that will be the case and he has revealed he is now “so happy” to be a teammate of the Stockholm-born star.
“We know how good he is, it’s scary to play against him,” said the defender after Arsenal’s 3-2 pre-season win over Newcastle. “Of course, I’m so happy to have him in my club, and I’m sure that he will help us to win games and win trophies.”
When pressed why he is “scary” to play against, he added: “Because when you face a striker who scores goals, you have to be focused! But now he’s in our team and he will score for us, so that’s good.”
Gyokeres is not the only new signing that could potentially prove decisive in the title race. Arsenal have added to their squad with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera and Noni Madueke also signing on in north London.
“Every year is different. We have to learn from the last three seasons,” outlined Saliba. “Of course we are lucky to have a chance to compete in the Premier League again and try to win.
