Arsenal defender William Saliba is convinced that Sweden striker Victor Gyokeres can play a key role in helping the team win a silverware and end their trophy drought.
The Gunners completed a move for Gyokeres in a deal worth up to £64 million including add-ons last weekend, after weeks of negotiation with Sporting Lisbon.
The North London side have finished second in three consecutive English Premier League seasons, with the lack of a top striker being a major concern.
“We know how good he is, it’s scary to play against him,” Saliba said. “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.”
Gyokeres was unveiled before Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United in a friendly match in Singapore on Sunday and has joined his new teammates in preparation for the new season.
The 27-year-old could also be set to make his debut in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on Thursday.
“[He is scary] 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.
Every year is different. We have to learn from the last three seasons. Of course, we are lucky to have a chance to compete in the Premier League again to try to win”, Saliba continued.
“Our mindset is to win the Premier League and we will give everything from the first game. We have a lot of new players and they will hopefully help us to win this league.”
Arsenal play rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their final match of the preseason tour of Asia on Thursday, before returning to England to face Villareal and Athletic Bilbao next month.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
