“Although I’m not regretting joining Arsenal but honestly I don’t enjoy playing with that guy”: Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres has named ONE Gunners player who made him nearly regret joining the club after what he did to him against Villarreal

After spending July playing friendlies in Singapore and Hong Kong, Arsenal’s return to North London and their subsequent game versus Villarreal was somewhat of a disappointment.

Former Gunner Nicolas Pépé put the away side ahead after a poor clearing attempt from David Raya – with the Ivorian subsequently refusing to celebrate – before recent academy graduate Karl Etta Eyong got the second to put El Submarino Amarillo (“The Yellow Submarine”) ahead with a gymnastic-like finish.

Three minutes later in the 36th minute, summer arrival Christian Norgaard found himself unmarked at the far post and got a struggling Arsenal side back within a goal.

The second could not come for the Gunners – instead Arnaut Danjuma, with twenty minutes having been played in the second half, broke through on goal and drove the ball home past Raya for Villarreal’s third.

Consolation came in the form of wonder-kid Max Dowman winning a spot-kick and Martin Ødegaard converting it – but it would just be that, with Arsenal ultimately losing the game 3-2 and the subsequent penalty shootout after the game.

Viktor Gyökeres’ full debut as a Gunner highlighted issues

After a brief cameo in Arsenal’s previous pre-season match versus Tottenham Hotspur, Viktor Gyökeres was given the chance to make his first start for the side.

Two shots and 14 touches, with one attempt on target and the other blocked, was all the Swede could muster. This was not down to a lack of ability – instead, a lack of service. Gyökeres’ 14 touches were dwarfed by those of his fellow attackers, Bukayo Saka (27) and Gabriel Martinelli (40).

This highlights a clear problem in Arsenal’s lack of central progression. Neither Martinelli nor Saka were able to get Gyökeres clearly through on goal – ruling out the opportunity of effective wing-play, while neither Ethan Nwaneri nor Mikel Merino could produce an incisive pass for Arsenal’s number 14.

Mikel Arteta believes the chemistry will come quick. When asked on when he expects Gyökeres to really start gelling at the club, he said bluntly “I hope, days.”

Max Dowman has earned Premier League minutes

When a 15-year-old is regarded as an elite talent, he might get a run with the under-23s. If he is one in a thousand, training with the first team and getting to sit on the bench in friendlies. Max Dowman, then, might be one in a million.

Dowman managed to win his second penalty of the pre-season, which led to Arsenal’s second goal of the match, following his first against Newcastle – and despite not taking either, it shows that teams treat the teenager with brutality, usually only exposed to players much older than him.

Arteta was kind to both Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the season prior, only introducing the talented duo of youngsters into the fray last season after time developing in the youth squad and maturing.

As brilliant as the two aforementioned are, Dowman has shown so far that he may be a cut above for his age. It could be a risk, but Arteta knows how special he is.

“Let’s see how it goes… he needs a little break.”

Mikel Arteta on whether Max Dowman will feature in the 2025/26 Premier League season

Nicolas Pépé haunted his former team
The fact that Nicolas Pépé scored Villarreal’s opener and did not show any jubilation shows how much the Ivorian valued his time at Arsenal and the club itself – but it has not been a simple route for him since leaving the team.

Pépé found himself frozen out of the Arsenal squad four years ago, and was honest about his time under Arteta.

“With Arteta, it… was good at the start. After that, the confidence wasn’t really there.”

He spent time in France with Nice and Turkey with Trabzonspor before joining Villarreal in 2024, and was an important player in La Liga last season for them, playing 28 games.

Now 30, Pépé was instrumental to his side winning and effective in transition – while also showing his workhorse off-the-ball mentality with eight recoveries.

Santiago Mouriño could be the next great South American centre-back

Villarreal’s rock at the back was 23-year-old Santiago Mouriño, with the Uruguayan getting awarded Man of the Match and keeping Arsenal’s attack entirely quiet from open play.

Mouriño had an exquisite game, winning seven out of eight tackles, picking up nine clearances and winning 63% of his ground duels.

Signed from Atlético Madrid after an impressive 2024/25 season with Alavés, he ranked well in tackles per game (28) and in the 61st percentile for percentage of tackles won.

Still young, an impressive season could see the centre-back attract eyes on him from beyond just the province of Castellón.