Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has refused to rule out using Rasmus Hojlund on Sunday against Arsenal, despite the uncertainty over the striker’s future.
He is one more option. We will see and Rasmus is still our player.
Ruben Amorim
Gyokeres plan
Mikel Arteta has outlined how he and his coaching staff plan to get the best out of new striker Viktor Gyokeres this season.
He said in his press conference today: “We want to do everything. First of all, understanding the player and exposing the player to the conditions that he can fulfil his incredible potential.
“Then that’s going to be the key, and the good thing is that many players, many strikers, they have come from different leagues, they have come to the Premier League and been successful.
“And it’s for us, creating the right context for Viktor to do what he does best, which is to score goals.”
Ins and outs
Here’s a quick glance at Arsenal’s business already this summer…
Arsenal have announced that Max Porter will take over as the club’s new U21 head coach.
Porter has been with the Gunners since 2017, where he started life as an U9s coach.
Since then he has worked with the U13s, U17s and U19s.
Academy manager Per Mertesacker said: “Max has got the qualities needed to be a successful leader and coach.
“The environment he creates for staff and young players is always one of high challenge and ultimate care. Max is driving the highest standards and is a brilliant colleague and coach.
“We are all looking forward to supporting Max as he continues to develop in this role, and thank him for all his hard work and commitment so far.”
Will Gyokeres start?
Arsenal fans are clamouring to find out if new striker Viktor Gyokeres will start against Manchester United on Sunday.
Although Arteta didn’t give an explicit yes, the Gunners boss hinted that his new frontman is ready to go.
He said: “He’s getting better and better every day. He’s normally a really fit player. It’s true that he hasn’t trained so much with us.
“He had those two moments in games when he’s participated and the feeling was very good, so let’s see what we do on Sunday.”
Odegaard remaining as captain
Mikel Arteta has revealed that his players overwhelmingly voted in favour of keeping Martin Odegaard as captain this season.
Arsenal legend Tony Adams had said earlier in the week that Odegaard should be replaces by Declan Rice, but Arteta has revealed that is not a sentiment shared by the squad.
He said: “Well, my opinion is clear. It’s not just my opinion, it’s all the staff and especially the players.
“I asked them to vote for the captain and I got the result yesterday.
“By a mile, by a big, big 100 marks, everybody’s choosing the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, which is the most clear sign that you can have, how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win the matches that we want to win.
Wienroither moved to Arsenal from Hoffenheim in January 2022 and played 51 times for the Gunners.
The Austria international said making a permanent move to City, who finished fourth in the Women’s Super League last season, was a “no-brainer”.
Wienroither said: “I really enjoyed the last six months. I feel like I settled in well.
“I really like the girls, I really like the staff. So, when the opportunity came up that I can stay, I didn’t have to think twice.”
She has committed to City until 2027 and expects to be challenging for silverware.
“This club is made to win titles, to win trophies, and I’m here to do that,” Wienroither said. “The team definitely has the qualities and potential to do that, and we do have a very successful future ahead.”
However, Wienroither only featured three times for the Gunners last season before her loan to City, as she faced competition from USA full-back Emily Fox and academy graduate Katie Reid.
IT’S opening night at football’s multi-billion dollar circus and spending has gone through the big-top roof.
So despite an almighty spree of his own, Arne Slot believes his Liverpool side will face tougher competition than ever if they are to retain their Premier League title.
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Arne Slot admits he will do well to keep his hands on the Prem trophyCredit: Getty
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Florian Wirtz has been brought to Anfield as part of a massive spree that may not be over yetCredit: Mark Pain / Premium Sports Images
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Chelsea will be looking to challenge after spending nearly a quarter of a billionCredit: Getty
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Could Viktor Gyokeres be the missing piece for Arsenal as they chase a long-awaited title?Credit: Getty
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And as the defending champions roll up to Anfield to face Bournemouth, kicking off another season for the greatest show on Earth, the Dutchman expects the title battle to be fiercer than ever.
But world champs Chelsea have spent another quarter of a billion, followed by Manchester United (£200.5m), Arsenal (£181.8m) and Manchester City (£150.1m for a total of £324m in the calendar year).
And Slot said: “The reason why it’s so difficult lies mainly with the fact there are so many that can win the league over here.
“To win it once is very special, if you can win it twice in five years like us — and City did even better — then that is unbelievable.
“And probably this year’s going to be harder than any year before because every team brings in new players. Our main competitors definitely did as well.
“The challenge in the Premier League is always the teams. We start with Bournemouth — the most intense in the league in terms of running and also playing style — and after that it’s Newcastle and Arsenal.
“That sums up this league and the challenges we have.”
If winning the title is a serious achievement, retaining it is far tougher — only Pep Guardiola’s City, Sir Alex Ferguson’s United and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea have won back-to-back Premier League crowns.
Meet the Premier League’s newest wags after their star partners transfers including nurse, lawyer & make-up expert
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Slot would be walking among giants if he wins a second title in two seasons.
And while the signings of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez provide a major platform, he still wants Newcastle striker Isak as well as Guehi, the England defender who skippered Crystal Palace to beat the Reds in Sunday’s Community Shield.
Perennial runners-up Arsenal are in a major recruitment drive too — adding Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cristhian Mosquera ahead of a critical campaign for Mikel Arteta.
As ever, Chelsea have bought in bulk — with strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap joining wingers Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian, left-back Jorrel Hato and midfielder Dario Essugo at a club powered by its own brand of chaos.
Guardiola’s City — four-in-a-row champions before last term — have made four big signings in Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and James Trafford, to add to their January quartet.
With United’s attacking overhaul bringing Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in, never before have all of England’s major clubs seen such change.
Europa League winners Spurs have spent £100m-plus, with more to come — with even promoted Sunderland well over nine figures.
The league is increasingly competitive. The Liverpool-City duopoly — when two near-perfect teams needed close to 100 points to take the crown — is over.
No longer does one defeat spell disaster, yet fewer fixtures are a formality for any title-chasers.
With Liverpool making so many changes, Slot faces a different pressure to when he inherited Jurgen Klopp’s squad last summer.
He said: “I took over a team with only two weeks to prepare due to the Euros and Copa America.
“This year we’ve brought in very good, intelligent players who need to integrate. Bournemouth will bring a big challenge but everyone is looking forward to it.”
Roll up, roll up — tonight’s the night we begin to find out if they all have more money than sense.
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Man United fans will be praying that Sesko hits the ground runningCredit: Getty
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Guardiola has spent around £150m in a bid to get the title back to the EtihadCredit: AFP
CRYSTAL PALACE fans have been struck by another bout of tough luck as the Premier League has rescheduled their upcoming match with Aston Villa
The match, scheduled to be held at Villa Park on Friday August 29th, has been moved to a 7pm Sunday kick-off.
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Crystal Palace have been struck by another blow as their match with Aston Villa was rescheduled to a very impractical time for travelling fansCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Palace fans will have to make the 200+ mile round trip for the 7pm kick off on Sunday at Villa Park and be ready for their early starts the next dayCredit: Getty
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The move adds insult to injury following the confirmation of their demotion to the Europa Conference League for the upcoming season.
The rescheduling has been made to accommodate the second leg of the Eagles’ opening fixture of that competition.
They will face either Fredrikstad or Midtjylland on August 28th.
The decision has piled the misery on to fans who are only just coming to terms with the brutal rejection of their CAS appeal on Monday.
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Some fans have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with the impractical timing of the fixture.
One fan said: “7pm on a Sunday is outrageous.”
Another sarcastically pointed out the difficulties the fixture can bring travelling fans.
They said: “Oh brilliant. That will be fun with an early shift the next day.”
THERE are just four days to go until the new Premier League season kicks off.
Champions Liverpool wasted no time in dropping nearly £300million to bolster Arne Slot’s squad ahead of their title defence.
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Liverpool spent big money to land the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo EkitikeCredit: Reuters
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Manchester United unveiled their new signings at Old Trafford on SaturdayCredit: Getty
But as managers across the division make their final preparations ahead of this weekend, chairmen will be trying to get some more players in through the doors in time for the curtain-raisers.
SunSport rounds up ten mega-money transfers that could get done THIS WEEK…
ALEXANDER ISAK
The Newcastle striker’s future has been one of sagas of the summer – will he stay or will he go?
Marc Guehi will be sold if the right bid comes inCredit: Alamy
YOANE WISSA
The mass exodus at Brentford this summer may not be over just yet if Wissa follows Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Mark Flekken out of the Gtech.
Newcastle reportedly had a £25m bid turned down but look set to go back in for the DR Congo international, with Liverpool monitoring the situation.
Benjamin Sesko is paraded around Old Trafford after completing £74million transfer
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Yoane Wissa may be the next big name to leave BrentfordCredit: Getty
KEVIN
Another Brazilian winger, this time it is Kevin who could be on the move – and heading to the Premier League.
Fulham submitted an offer of £32m but Shakhtar Donetsk are trying to hold out for £43m.
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Kevin could end up at FulhamCredit: Getty
CARLOS BELEBA
Manchester United want to bring in another midfielder before the window closes – and would love Baleba in time for the start of the new season.
He is part of the ‘bomb squad’ deemed surplus to requirements by United gaffer Ruben Amorim, who will happily see the back of the Argentine wideman who was left out of the USA pre-season tour.
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Alejandro Garnacho is in the Ruben Amorim ‘bomb squad’Credit: Getty
NICOLAS JACKSON
But with all the incomings at Chelsea – including strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap – there may be a major exit, too, with Jackson third-choice No9.
The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday, August 15, when champions Liverpool entertain Bournemouth.
Arne Slot’s Reds will be favourites to lift the trophy once more, but can Arsenal improve on three consecutive second-placed finishes? Manchester City are expected to bounce back from an uncharacteristically quiet season under Pep Guardiola, while Chelsea are the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) champions.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the likely candidates.
Liverpool
Slot’s side stormed to a record-equalling 20th Premier League title last season. The Reds finished 10 points clear of Arsenal – and that after taking their foot off the gas in a winless four-game run to finish.
Florian Wirtz is the big name summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen and comes with a hefty price tag of $156m. The German midfielder follows French forward Hugo Ekitike and Dutch wide man Jeremie Frimpong through the Anfield gates.
The latter will be utilised both in covering for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has joined Real Madrid, and Mohamed Salah, who will depart midseason to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Securing the ongoing services of both Salah and Virgil van Dijk, however, was undoubtedly the biggest piece of business the Reds needed.
Egyptian forward Salah was heavily linked with the Saudi Pro League and, having topped the goalscoring charts against last season with 29 goals, would have been a huge loss.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League as the now-departed Trent Alexander-Arnold, centre, watches on [Phil Noble/Reuters]
Dutch defender and Liverpool captain van Dijk has been the rock upon which the Reds’ fortunes have been built since his arrival from Southampton in 2018.
The pursuit of Aleksander Isak from Newcastle United has been ongoing for some time. Slot has teased the Reds may return with a second bid, and if one position has been in question, it is an out-and-out striker – Isak’s 23 goals last season proved he is one of the hottest talents in that role.
“Every team in the Premier League is spending money,” Slot said in the run-up to the new campaign. “So if we are only favourites because we’ve spent a bit, I would see that as weird because we’ve lost a lot as well. But that we are favourites because we won it last season and we played so well, that’s clear.”
The tragic death of Diogo Jota, in a car crash in Spain in July, supersedes all concerns of success. Coming to terms with his loss will be painful in training and in matches, with his absence felt in ways far beyond the gap the Portuguese forward leaves in the starting XI each week.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been the form team of the last three seasons in the Premier League, but three second-place finishes in a row are starting to burn deeply in north London.
Substantial reinforcements have been sought to help the Gunners end their 22-season wait to lift the Premier League title once again.
Viktor Gyokeres is the headline news, given Arteta made little secret of his frustration with the club’s lack of striking options last season.
Viktor Gyokeres is pictured in the stands during Arsenal’s preseason tour of Singapore [Caroline Chia/Reuters]
The signing of the Swedish striker from Sporting Lisbon for 63 million pounds ($85m) will be seen as the best chance to close the gap on Liverpool.
Noni Madueke’s capture from Chelsea, meantime, divided Arsenal fans. The England international does, however, bring further depth and additional quality to a forward line, whose top scorer last season was Kai Havertz with a paltry nine goals.
The arrival in midfield from Real Sociedad of Martin Zubimendi, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, can only solidify the already meticulously manufactured system Arteta has arranged.
Chelsea
Chelsea will surely hit the ground running following their stunning FIFA Club World Cup success against European champions Paris Saint-Germain last month.
Enzo Maresca’s side stormed to a 3-0 win against the Parisians, who swept through the UEFA Champions League – culminating in their own 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan – to complete the treble.
Joao Pedro’s three goals across the semifinal and final at the CWC have already gone a long way towards validating his 60-million-pound ($80.7m) signing from Brighton before the tournament. That move came on top of the capture of fellow strikers, Liam Delap from Ipswich and Estevao from Palmeiras.
Chelsea captain Reece James was presented with the trophy by US President Donald Trump after winning the FIFA Club World Cup [Hannah Mckay/Reuters]
Estevao scored against the west London club in his last game with his Brazilian outfit during the quarterfinals of the CWC.
Disjointed has long been a word associated with Chelsea on and off the pitch, certainly since their last Premier League title win in 2017.
Whether Maresca can continue to tie the team together following the CWC triumph, and whether that tournament will test the legs of the Blues players later in the season, could well be deciding factors in Chelsea’s title challenge.
Manchester City
Will Pep Guardiola’s team bounce back to the form that saw them claim a record fourth consecutive Premier League title only a season ago? Or will the light blues of Manchester continue to feel the heavy burden of a side that conquered all before them, only to seemingly lose control of their own success last season?
The injury to Ballon d’Or holder Rodri undoubtedly hit City hard last term, and the news that he will miss the start of the new campaign will also come as a huge concern to Guardiola.
For a team that won an unprecedented five trophies in 2023, and the record-setting Premier League title the following year, to fall so far last season came as a huge shock to all, not least their manager.
Indeed, many believed last season may well have been Guardiola’s final term. Even with a two-year contract extension signed midway through the last campaign, a slow start to this season will once again cast doubt where once it seemed unthinkable.
The departure of Kevin De Bruyne marks a passing of the guard, and that absence will now be doubly felt in the early stages with the unavailability of Rodri.
Their nine league losses last season were more than their two previous seasons combined and resulted in a first finish outside the top two since 2016-2017. The Blues also crashed out of the Champions League and League Cup early, and their FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace meant no silverware for the first time in eight years.
Pep Guardiola’s time at Manchester City may well be reaching a crossroads [Lee Smith/Reuters]
Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, winger Rayan Cherki and goalkeeper James Trafford have all been recruited in the close season.
The summer spree pushed City’s spending for 2025 past the 300-million-pounds ($403.5m) mark, following the arrivals of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis in the January window.
“I’m pretty sure it’ll be good, but it won’t be a red carpet season,” Guardiola said.
“The expectation at the beginning of the season is always, let’s go and try to do our best, win the first games, get confidence and move forward. We want to try and do better than last season, especially with consistency.”
A cloud that continues to hang over the club, however, is that they still face 115 charges of breaking Premier League financial regulations.
City, who have always denied any wrongdoing, were charged with the alleged breaches in February 2023. A verdict during the October international break.
The Red Devils’ captain Bruno Fernandes hit out at a “lazy” preseason performance following the 2-2 preseason draw with Everton, and also called for more reinforcements.
One of the longest serving players at the club, England international Luke Shaw, also criticised a “toxic” dressing room culture that manager Ruben Amorim was trying to change.
Just like Guardiola, his opposite number across the Manchester divide, how long the reversal in fortunes takes is likely to take will define how much longer Amorim has at the helm.
New Manchester United player Benjamin Sesko applauds fans before the preseason friendly with Fiorentina on August 9 [Andrew Boyers/Reuters]
Newcastle United narrowly missed out on a top-four spot, and with it Champions League qualification, last season, having been seen as early-season title contenders.
The doubts surrounding their star name, Isak, cast huge doubts heading into the new season for Eddie Howe’s side. Should the Swede depart, and with their own top target, Sesko, moving to Old Trafford, the Geordies look the most under threat of falling short of last season’s progress.
Aston Villa were another side that have threatened to break into the Premier League’s elite, having secured Champions League football two years ago, which resulted in a run to the quarterfinals last year.
Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand has been signed from French club Nice for a reported fee of at least 30 million euros ($35m). The 24-year-old winger scored 13 goals last season.
If the transfer merry-go-round continues, however, then Villa striker Ollie Watkins could be the next on the move, with all of last season’s top four having been linked with a move for the England international at some stage.
Indeed, Isak’s future at Newcastle could well be the trigger for whether Watkins remains at Villa Park when the transfer window shuts on September 1.
VIKTOR GYOKERES is wearing the No14 shirt made famous by Thierry Henry and the Swede is also looking to become an Arsenal legend.
Unfortunately for the club’s big summer signing, he had just 14 touches on his Emirates debut before being replaced in the 62nd minute, so this will not be a night he looks back with fondness.
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Viktor Gyokeres was upstaged on his Emirates debut as Arsenal crashed to defeatCredit: AFP
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Forgotten £72m flop Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring against his old clubCredit: Getty
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But things only got worse as Arnaut Danjuma went on to score the La Liga sides thirdCredit: Reuters
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Martin Odegaard bagged a late consolation from the penalty spot but it wasn’t enough to win the game in normal timeCredit: AFP
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Not that it really matters, obviously.
If Viktor Gyokeres fires the goals to end Arsenal’s role as permanent Premier League bridesmaids to clinch the title, and there is no reason why he cannot, the Swede will be forgiven if he takes time to adjust in north London.
On the night all eyes were on the new arrival from Sporting Lisbon, absolutely no-one had taken any notice of Villarreal’s Nicolas Pepe.
Villarreal’s Ivory Coast international scored the first goal and Karl Etta Eyong made it 2-0 before new arrival Christian Norgaard scored with a header.
Yet while we have spent the last few weeks talking about the need of a top striker, Mikel Arteta’s team will have to defend better than this, and sub Arnaut Danjuma made it 3-1 before Martin Odegaard pulled one back from the penalty spot.
Villarreal then won a penalty shoot-out 4-3 with another new arrival, Noni Madueke, missing the decisive spot-kick.
Gyokeres, who cost £8.5million less than Pepe, made his club debut as a 77th minute substitute against Spurs in Hong Kong but was given a heroes’ welcome at a packed Emirates.
If Arsenal are to get the best out of their new all-singing, all-dancing goal machine, they will have to give him more ammunition.
Equally, Gyokeres did not have a proper pre-season as he barely trained in Lisbon.
Arsenal’s 2025-26 third kit ‘leaked’ and fans absolutely love it
He will soon be in better shape and has another run-out on Saturday against Athletic Bilbao.
Gyokeres tried to score his first goal in spectacular style but failed to connect with an attempted bicycle kick from Bukayo Saka’s cross and he had few other chances.
In terms of the way he moves and the fact has blonde hair, it was a bit like having Nicklas Bendtner back at the Emirates although it is safe to say Gyokeres will do a bit better than the cocky Dane.
Arteta also gave second half Emirates debuts to Christhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Madueke.
Yet the comedy moment of the night was Pepe opening the scoring from close range and then refusing to celebrate.
Pepe arrived from Lille for that massive amount in 2019 and scored just 27 goals in 112 appearances before joining Trabzonspor on a free transfer in 2023.
Many Arsenal fans probably did not realise that Pepe was even playing in this fixture although there was a mixture of jeers and applause when his name was read out after scoring.
Etta Eyong scored at the far post for 2-0 before former Brentford captain Norgaard pulled one back with a far post header before the break.
The biggest roar of the night came just after the hour when 15-year-old Max Dowman was unleashed.
Villarreal caught Arsenal on the break with former Bournemouth forward Danjuma making it 3-1 before Dowman won a penalty and Odegaard, who replaced Gyokeres, got Arsenal’s second.
There was still a shoot-out although Madueke saw his shot saved with one fan shouting: “send him back to Chelsea.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal – yet again – have fitness concerns.
Both defender Riccardo Calafiori, who suffered an injury on the tour, along with Kai Havertz, were missing from the squad.
Eberechi is eager to up sticks from Selhurst Park and move to the Emirates, it’s been claimed.
Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel: “I’m told that the negotiation club to club has not started yet. But sources at Crystal Palace expect Arsenal to arrive for Eze.
“Why? Because Arsenal have been in contact for months now with the agents of Eze, because Eze is very appreciated by Arsenal, because Arsenal still want to add the player if they will have the opportunity to.
“They spoke to the player several times and the player is also very keen on a move. So Palace expect Arsenal to arrive.”
Merino talks Spurs loss
Mikel Merino reckons Arsenal’s loss to Spurs can be used as a catalyst for a solid start to the new Premier League season.
The Spain international said: “Obviously, winning is a priority for us, but in pre-season, there are other things that have a lot of value, like getting fit, keeping that connection with the fans here in this amazing city.
“We adapted quickly to the pitch, to the opponent, I think we dominated most of the game.
“The result is obviously the worst part, but we have to take the positives.
“Obviously, this feeling is going to be the gasoline for the season to keep growing, keep learning and hopefully go upwards.”
Arteta praises Dowman
Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Max Dowman for his displays during pre-season.
He said: “I’m not surprised, he’s been really impressive with what he’s done again at his age, the way he has entered the matches and with that determination, that quality, that decisiveness I would say.
“The same with the other kids that played, so it was another exposure to them, which is not easy, especially at that age.
“They certainly have done so, so well and made a lot of people proud.”
It seemed last season like Arsenal were crying out for a goalscoring striker and they will feel they have got just that in the signing of Viktor Gyokeres.
While the Gunners conceded fewer goals than Liverpool in 2024-25, Arne Slot’s side scored 17 more – arguably the key difference in the Premier League title race.
That is a problem Gyokeres has obviously been brought in to address, although it may be a bit more complicated than that.
When we look at the reasons why Arsenal scored just 69 goals to the champions’ 86, it’s clear that their problem wasn’t finishing chances but creating them…
Arsenal won seven fewer penalties
Liverpool (13.3%) had a better shot conversion rate than Arsenal (12.6%) last season, but that’s a misleading stat for one key reason – penalties.
Liverpool won and scored a league-high nine penalties, while Arsenal won and scored a paltry two.
Given that penalties were scored at a rate of 83% and non-penalty shots at just 11% in the Premier League in 2024-25, every spot-kick that a team won significantly distorted their shot conversion rate as a reflection of their finishing ability.
When we look at how ruthless the two teams were away from the penalty spot, it’s actually Arsenal who were the (slightly) better finishers…
While Liverpool winning nine penalties was a lot, 14 teams have been awarded more in a season over the past decade – including Manchester United being awarded a whopping 14 penalties in 38 games in 2019-20.
However, for a team that finished as high in the table as Arsenal to win just two penalties is unusual. In the past 10 campaigns, a side ending up with a points tally in the 70s has won an average of five penalties, while champions have won an average of eight.
In fact, the last team to win so many points and so few penalties was Arsenal themselves back in 2015-16 when they also finished runners-up, winning just two penalties. Champions Leicester were awarded 13.
Those seven extra penalties last season had a significant impact on the title race, too, as Liverpool’s nine spot-kicks won them an extra 11 points over the course of the campaign.
Since Arsenal’s two penalties both came in a 5-2 win at West Ham in November, they earned the Gunners no points whatsoever.
Arsenal took far fewer shots
Putting penalties aside, we come to the major reason why Arsenal scored so few goals compared to Liverpool – they just didn’t create enough chances!
Over the course of 38 games, Liverpool took 95 more non-penalty shots than the Gunners… exactly 2.5 more every game.
If Mikel Arteta’s side had taken the same number of non-penalty shots as the champions and continued scoring at the rate that they did (12.3%) then they would’ve scored an additional 12 goals, showing Arsenal’s main problem last season was that you can’t score the chances you don’t make.
Arsenal took worse-quality shots
Liverpool didn’t just create more shots than Arsenal last season but better ones, too, as only Brentford created higher-quality chances on average in terms of expected goals per shot (excluding penalties).
What that means is Liverpool created chances last season that have historically been scored in the Premier League 12% of the time, while Arsenal’s have been converted at a rate of 11%.
Now, a 1% difference might not sound like much but, given that Arsenal took 544 non-penalty shots over the course of last season, if they had created chances as good as the champions they would have scored an additional five goals (1% of 544).
So… Arsenal were actually pretty ruthless?
Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that the goals Arsenal ‘didn’t score’ thanks to the reasons above add up to 24, while in reality they scored 17 goals fewer than Liverpool.
That’s because when you take shot quality into account, Arsenal weren’t just slightly better finishers than the champions last season but much better finishers, as they overperformed their non-penalty xG by seven goals to Liverpool’s measly 0.5.
In fact, despite the narrative around Arsenal’s finishing last season, only Nottingham Forest and Wolves were more ruthless in front of goal than the Gunners.
The problem for Arteta’s side was that Liverpool created so many more, and higher-quality, chances that they didn’t need to be clinical to win the league.
So, in a nutshell, here are the reasons why Arsenal scored 17 goals fewer than Liverpool last season…
Now the good news: Gyokeres brings more than just finishing
While obviously the more Gyokeres can help Arsenal finish their chances the better, he should also help solve the Gunners’ main problem of creating enough chances in the first place.
Last season he attempted 4.5 shots per 90 minutes on average in the Primeira Liga, far more than Gabriel Jesus (3.0) and Kai Havertz (2.6) averaged for Arsenal in the Premier League.
Although clearly the number of shots a striker takes is in part down to the service he gets from his team-mates, it’s also a result of the options he gives his team-mates with his movement and anticipation in and around the box.
Given that Gyokeres also ranked second for chances created from open play in the league (60) and won the most penalties (4), he should play a major role in providing the ammunition the Gunners need to make a challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Tottenham beat North London rivals Arsenal 1-0 in a friendly in Hong Kong ahead of new Premier League season.
Pape Matar Sarr scored from the halfway line as Tottenham punished a shaky performance by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to win the first North London derby staged outside the United Kingdom 1-0.
Raya, who had already been caught in no-man’s land twice as in-swinging corners hit the post, was at fault again in the 45th minute on Thursday when Sarr robbed Myles Lewis-Skelly just inside the Arsenal half.
The Spurs midfielder looked up, saw Raya stranded way outside his penalty area and let fly to score in outrageous fashion from 50 yards out.
Nominally a preseason “friendly”, there was no love lost on the pitch between the bitter rivals.
Tackles flew in and tempers frayed in a fiercely contested clash in front of a 49,975 sellout crowd under the roof in Hong Kong’s air-conditioned Kai Tak Stadium.
Arsenal started the stronger but it was Tottenham who hit the woodwork three times in a frantic first half and deserved their lead at the break.
Arsenal laid siege to the Tottenham goal at the start of the second half, but new manager Thomas Frank had his defence well-drilled and the Gunners found it hard to break through.
Tottenham Hotspur’s players celebrate their goal in front of Arsenal fans during their friendly at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong [Peter Parks/AFP]
Gabriel Martinelli did manage to find an opening on 58 minutes but shot wastefully over the bar from 14 yards.
Arsenal brought on Leandro Trossard and new signing Martin Zubimendi, who almost scored with his first touch when his shot was deflected over the bar.
A huge cheer went up when Son Heung-min was introduced by Tottenham in the 75th minute.
It was followed by an even bigger ovation when new striker Viktor Gyokeres also came off the bench for his Arsenal debut with 13 minutes to go.
The Swedish striker, sporting the number 14 shirt made famous by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, was signed for $67m six days ago.
He made some darting runs as Arsenal pressed for a late equaliser, but will need time to get up to speed with his new club.
Tottenham now fly on to South Korea to face Newcastle United on Sunday, while Arsenal head home after three matches in Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Swedish striker joins the London club after scoring 97 goals for Sporting Lisbon over the past two seasons.
Arsenal have signed Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres, bringing an end to the Premier League club’s years-long search for a prolific goalscorer.
Gyokeres completed a move from Sporting Lisbon on Saturday worth a reported 63 million pounds ($85m) and signed a five-year contract.
“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision,” said Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta.
The 27-year-old striker joins Arsenal after establishing himself after two outstanding seasons in Portugal, in which he fired Lisbon to back-to-back league titles with 97 goals, including 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 season, outscoring the likes of superstars Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
A top-class striker has long been considered the missing element for Arsenal, which came runner-up in each of the last three Premier League seasons. The failure to bring one in during the January transfer window badly undermined its attempts to challenge Liverpool for the title last term.
“The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels.”
Gyokeres returns to England after joining Brighton as a youth player and later emerging at second-tier Coventry, where his 22 goals helped the team reach the playoff final in 2023.
His record of 40 goals in 97 games for Coventry caught the attention of Lisbon and led to a 20.5 million pounds ($25m) move to the Portuguese club.
His explosive form over the past two seasons has seen frequent speculation about a move to one of European football’s giants, including Manchester United. But Arsenal has won the race for his signature, and the transfer represents a remarkable rise for a player who was first developed at Brommapojkarna, a Swedish club with a reputation for guiding the careers of some of the country’s best emerging talents.
“He was a late developer because he was not the best striker or the best player in Brommapojkarna at age 16, 17, 18, 19,” Dalibor Savic, his former youth coach at the Swedish club, told The Associated Press in November. “If he aims at something, he will achieve it.”
Gyokeres will have to prove he can make the step up to the Premier League after failing to break through at Brighton, a club known for unearthing players like Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister in recent years. He only made eight appearances for the club and was loaned to St Pauli in Germany and Swansea before his permanent move to Coventry.
His performances for Sweden and in the Champions League suggest he will be able to continue that form at Arsenal.
He was the leading scorer in the Nations League, with nine goals, outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo and Haaland, and hit six in eight appearances in the Champions League for Lisbon last season.
Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting runs with the ball during the Liga Portugal Betclic match between FC Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Estadio do Dragao on February 7, 2025, in Porto, Portugal [Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images]
Arsenal have completed the signing of defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial fee in the region of 15m euros (£13m).
The 21-year-old has joined the Gunners on a five-year contract, which has an option for a further 12 months.
Mosquera can play at both centre-back and right-back and will fill the gap in the squad left by the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract earlier this month.
The Spain Under-21 international joined Valencia in 2016 as a 12-year-old before making his first-team debut in 2022 when he became the youngest centre-back to play for the club.
Mosquera made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular for them last season, playing the full match in 37 of the club’s 38 La Liga games as they finished 12th.
Mosquera is set to join up with the Arsenal squad on their pre-season tour in Asia as he had already been given permission to travel by Valencia before the deal had been confirmed.
Cristhian Mosquera is flying to Singapore to join up with Arsenal on their pre-season tour as the Gunners move closer to completing a deal for the Valencia defender.
The 21-year-old has been given permission by the Spanish club to join up with Arsenal, having already agreed personal terms.
The Spain Under-21 defender will provide competition for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
He can play at both centre-back and right-back and will fill the gap in the squad left by the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
Mosquera has made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular last season, playing the full match in 37 of the club’s 38 La Liga games.
Arsenal face AC Milan in Singapore in the National Stadium on Wednesday before taking on Newcastle at the same venue on Sunday.
They then travel to Hong Kong to play Tottenham Hotspur before returning to London.
Arsenal did not want to sit still after winning the Women’s Champions League and vowed to strengthen their squad.
This is an eye-catching recruit that does just that with Smith widely considered one of the WSL’s most exciting youngsters, with a high ceiling of potential.
She brings pace and directness to Arsenal’s attacking line-up and has already proven herself in the WSL with a successful season at Liverpool.
There has been longstanding interest in Smith from Arsenal, who were beaten to her signature by Liverpool in 2024, and they have always been ready to spend should they need to.
The Reds have made a profit of almost £800,000 after breaking their club record last summer to sign Smith, and they will see this as good business despite losing one of the world’s brightest young talents.
Liverpool managing director Andy O’Boyle rejected several bids until £1m was presented. The £1m payment will be made in instalments to allow Liverpool to invest gradually.
The club hope to use this money to strengthen the squad in several areas this season.
There is also a sell-on clause, so Liverpool will benefit from any future sale.
Smith had several suitors but it is believed she was impressed by Arsenal’s recruitment presentation.
Having left home as a teenager to play professional football in Portugal, then leap up to the WSL, all by the age of 20, Arsenal think she has proven her character and ability to be part of an elite squad.
Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres is facing disciplinary action by his club Sporting after failing to report for pre-season training, says the Portuguese club’s president Frederico Varandas.
Varandas added that any potential transfer was now becoming “more complicated”.
BBC Sport reported last week that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta held face-to-face talks with Sweden international Gyokeres in Portugal.
Sources have told BBC Sport that talks are ongoing with Arsenal, who are still hopeful of striking a deal, with their most recent proposal for the 27-year-old totalling about 70m euros (£60m) including add-ons.
Last month Sporting president Varandas said there was no ‘gentleman’s agreement’ for Gyokeres to leave for 70m euros but added that the club would not demand his full release clause of 100m euros (£85m).
Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season, has yet to publicly explain why he has not turned up for pre-season.
Varandas told Portuguese news agency Lusa that “no one is above the interests of the club”.
“We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a hefty fine and an apology to the group,” Varandas said.
“If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’ll be very comfortable with that for the next three years.
“If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave.”
Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 matches during his two seasons in Portugal, firing Sporting to two league titles.
