Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Viktor Gyokeres’ fitness, suggesting that Arsenal fans may have to wait before seeing the £65m striker in action. Gyokeres, still working to get up to speed, may not feature in the upcoming North London Derby.
Arsenal fans may need to be patient before catching their first glimpse of Viktor Gyokeres in an Arsenal shirt, with manager Mikel Arteta offering an update on the £65 million ($86 million) signing’s fitness ahead of the North London Derby on Thursday.
Gyokeres, who joined the Gunners after holding out of Sporting CP’s pre-season to facilitate the transfer, has not yet trained with his new teammates. Though he was unveiled before Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Newcastle in Hong Kong, Arteta confirmed that the 27-year-old still needs to undergo a fitness assessment before being considered for the match.
“We will assess him tomorrow,” Arteta said when asked about Gyokeres’ potential participation in Thursday’s derby. “He hasn’t had a single training session with the team since his last game with Sporting when they became champions.”
Despite passing his medicals, Gyokeres is still working to get up to speed with the right fitness levels, a priority for Arteta and the club’s medical team. “We want him with us as quickly as possible, but getting him up to the right levels of fitness is very important,” Arteta added.
The Big Picture: Gyokeres’ Transition to Arsenal
While Gyokeres’ medicals went smoothly, the club is taking a cautious approach with his integration. Arteta made it clear that they will not rush the Swede, ensuring he’s fully prepared before making his debut. Although there’s no guarantee that Gyokeres will feature in the North London Derby, the Arsenal boss did not rule out the possibility, noting that “everything is looking good” with the new signing.
Gyokeres will be eager to make his mark, especially given the weight of expectations that come with inheriting Thierry Henry’s iconic No. 14 shirt. As Arsenal prepares for the Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 16, the striker will need to quickly adjust to life in north London and prove his fitness.
