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Mikel Arteta’s side took on Villarreal in the first of two back-to-back fixtures against Spanish opposition at the Emirates, with Athletic Club set to follow on Saturday.

The match was streamed via Arsenal’s official website and app for £4.99, giving fans a chance to watch new arrivals Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, and Christian Norgaard in action on home turf.

Gyokeres, signed for £55 million, had previously featured for 20 minutes against Spurs, but was handed a starting role against Villarreal, while Madueke—making his first squad appearance since joining from Chelsea—began on the bench.

Zubimendi and Mosquera were also named among the substitutes, whereas Norgaard kept his spot in the starting lineup and managed to get on the scoresheet.

Arsenal have long been in search of an elite centre-forward, having finished runners-up in the Premier League three seasons in a row.

With 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP, Gyökeres looks like a strong contender to finally solve their striker dilemma.
However, in his first start for the club—a match that ended in a 3-2 defeat—fans noticed a concerning issue with the new frontman. He played 62 minutes but struggled to make an impact, largely due to limited support from his teammates.

Supporters are already calling for a tactical rethink, believing the current setup doesn’t suit Gyökeres’ style and must be adjusted to unlock his full potential.

One fan on X commented: “Gyokeres has done nothing but what annoys me is when he does make runs in behind, we refuse to play the pass. It’s like the players are not allowed to play through balls because the way we play is so restrictive.”

A second said: “It’s been 35 minutes and Gyokeres has had less than 3 touches. Getting Eze or Leao or Rodrygo won’t change anything, it’s a coaching issue.”

A third added: “I’m laughing here man. Gyokeres life has taken a massive turn—getting no passes on transitions, but crosses left, right, and centre when he can’t head a ball to save his life.”

A fourth fumed: “These man are just hoofing the ball into the box & not playing to Gyokeres’ feet.”

A final user complained: “These players can’t even create a single chance for Gyokeres!”

Assessing Gyokeres’ first start for his team, Mikel Arteta said: “I think it was important for him to start a match.I really saw a lot of things, a lot of purpose.

“In general for a lot of players who haven’t had a lot of minutes it’s good. He’s so willing and confident, I have no doubt that he will be ready.”