Arsenal defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 this weekend, with Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz both on Doel and Baas Mikel Arteta believes that both players can play together and complement each other this season
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes that Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz can play in the same team after both players scored in their 3-0 friendly victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Arteta started new £ 64 million striker Gyokeres in the front and the Swedish international took his first goal for the Gunners and was excellent to throw a header in the far corner.
Havertz started the game on the couch, but rose in the 71st minute before giving Arsenal their third and final goal while he went home under pressure after he was put on goal by Bukayo Saka.
There will now be questions about how Havertz configures in the team after the arrival of Gyokeres – and whether the German can be put aside or returned to a bench option this season.
But after the game Arteta it was insisted that the two players could complement each other and pointed out that Havertz was a versatile player who could also play in midfield.
“They can play together or Kai can play in different positions,” said the Spaniard after the game. “It increases the quality in the team, the options we have in the team and the options to offer opposition many problems.
Arteta continued to say that having several attacking options was a positive dilemma to have after last season without a recognized No. 9. He said: “It's great to see them both scoring and both in such a good form. It's a good problem to have.”
Havertz hopes to pedal this season after his campaign of 2024-25 was terminated prematurely by injury. He knows that there will be a fight for competition after Arsenal spent heavily spent on newcomers, including £ 55 million on Martin Zubimendi and a similar fee on Noni Madueke.
Gyokeres is supported to help Arsenal to deliver a trophy this season after the amazing individual campaign scored him 54 times in 52 games for Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal was defeated 3-2 by Villarreal in their last pre-season game, but Arteta said he was satisfied with the team's reaction in this game while he praised both gyokeres and oats for their efforts and said it will help the whole team that everyone “increases the level”.
“I am very happy with what I see,” he said. “I think there were individual major versions against an opponent of a Champions League. It's a good feeling.
“That first goal is always very important and the way he (Gyokees) took it too, was really, really good. We develop certain connections with the new players. It was very good. Kai came in and I think the goal he scored was also great.
“Increasing everyone's level will really help us, because we need our best of everyone at that level.”