Arsenal’s Latest Debut Flop? Gyökeres Fumbles Against Villarreal

Pépé, now suited up for Villarreal, reminded Arsenal exactly what they’d rather forget. He tapped in an opener, silenced the Emirates crowd, and refused to celebrate, which somehow added insult to injury. His message? “I’m not mad… just disappointed.” Well, the feelings are probably mutual. 

Things went further south when Karl Etta Eyong and Arnaut Danjuma added to Villarreal’s tally, leaving Arsenal’s defense looking more like Swiss cheese. Sure, there was a faint glimmer of hope when Martin Ødegaard converted a penalty late in the game, but at that point, it was very “too little, too late.” Arsenal even managed to lose the penalty shootout 4-3, with new signing Noni Madueke missing the decisive kick. 

Positives? A 15-Year-Old Picked Up the Slack 

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Arsenal, though. The brightest spark came from 15-year-old Max Dowman, who showcased his talent and earned a penalty for Ødegaard to slot home. If nothing else, Dowman gave fans a brief distraction from the mediocrity surrounding them. 

And sure, Gyökeres is new and still acclimatizing to the team. But Arsenal’s inability to provide any real service to their expensive new No. 14 is concerning. What’s the point of having a “goal machine” if no one hands him the ammunition? 

Same Old Arsenal? 

Skeptics might say this match was a microcosm of Arsenal’s recent seasons. A glitzy signing, lofty aspirations, and… back to being Premier League bridesmaids. Isn’t this the movie we’ve all seen before? 

The back line’s fragility, paired with a lack of creativity in the midfield, feels like ticking the boxes of Arsenal’s perpetual Achilles’ heels. And now, even before the season opener, fitness concerns for Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz add an extra layer of dread.  

Yes, it’s just pre-season, but fans can’t help but wonder whether Arsenal is doomed to rinse and repeat its second-place record, falling short of that elusive Premier League trophy again. Mikel Arteta has his work cut out, and judging by this performance, it’s not going to be smooth sailing. 

Final Thoughts 

Will Gyökeres turn into the hero Arsenal needs? Or will he fade into obscurity alongside the club’s long list of high-profile signings who didn’t quite cut it? For now, we’ll chalk this up to a bad night and look ahead to better performances. 

It’s early days, Arsenal fans. Just don’t expect much miraculously different unless this squad figures out its glaring gaps. Here’s hoping they bounce back against Athletic Bilbao. Fingers crossed.