Arsenal’s recent signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP for £63.8 million (£55.1 million fixed fee plus £8.7 million in add-ons) has heightened anticipation as the 27-year-old prepares for his first potential start in their pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on July 31, 2025.
Gyökeres, donning the iconic No. 14 shirt previously worn by Thierry Henry, brings a prolific record of 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting, including 54 goals in 52 games last season, making him the top scorer across Europe’s major leagues. His arrival addresses Arsenal’s need for a clinical No. 9 after scoring 17 fewer goals than champions Liverpool last season, with injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus exposing squad depth issues.
Following Arsenal’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over Newcastle United in their last pre-season friendly on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Singapore’s National Stadium, the team now prepares for their next pre-season match against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong. Gyökeres’ integration is a focal point, with Arteta emphasizing his “brutal finishing” and “prodigious running” as key to challenging for the title. Fans are buzzing on X, calling his debut “imminent,” as Arsenal’s revamped squad, including recent signings Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, and Noni Madueke, gears up for a competitive season.
