Arteta Warned: Risking Gyokeres vs Spurs Could Backfire

Arsenal opinion Arsenal and Mikel Arteta given clear Viktor Gyokeres warning ahead of Tottenham clash Arsenal were given a clear warning ahead of their North London derby clash with Tottenham which might concern them regarding throwing Viktor Gyokeres straight in footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Arsenal opinion By Tom Canton Football Writer 17:00, 29 JUL 2025 Updated 17:46, 29 JUL 2025 Bookmark Mikel Arteta has conducted his press conference ahead of Arsenal's match against Newcastle United (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice There is naturally a lot of excitement surrounding the potential debut of Arsenal's new striker, Viktor Gyokeres, this week. The Swede completed his move from Sporting CP in a deal worth €63.5million (£55million) plus €10million (8.7million) in add-ons. Gyokeres fulfils the desire of millions of fans around the world who have wanted to see Arsenal grab themselves a brand-new centre-forward. Expectations are that the 27-year-old can be the man to take the club to the next level, which, of course, is the Premier League or Champions League titles. However, there might be a good reason to not risk any players who Mikel Arteta values highly on Thursday when the Gunners take on Tottenham Hotspur. After they have already witnessed Riccardo Calafiori taken off with a tweak , Arteta describes, on Sunday against Newcastle the risks of pre-season revealed themselves. Furthermore, 15-year-old Max Dowman was treated to a warm Premier League welcome by Newcastle's Joelinton. The Brazilian midfielder was taking no prisoners when the two sides met and sent an arm into the teenager's face. Thursday is by no means a friendly, considering it is Arsenal against Tottenham, and Cristian Romero still resides in the Spurs squad. There is a genuine thought process behind who should play. Gyokeres is a vitally important part of the Arsenal puzzle this season. Both Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber are still working their way back from injury. Martin Odegaard is only just finding form again after a difficult season which included a serious ankle injury that cost him around two months of action. Then there are Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, who both suffered serious hamstring injuries requiring surgery. It might say friendly on paper, but when these two sides meet, even in a non-competitive context, there is an expectation that surrounds both clubs to win the game at any cost. If that cost is believed to form quite the physical battle, Arteta might want to reconsider just how much he exposes his squad to the rigours of a derby. The worst-case scenario is someone takes things that one step too far at the cost of a player's fitness, with just weeks remaining until the new season officially starts. This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Viktor Gyokeres Mikel Arteta Arsenal injury news North London Derby Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

Mikel Arteta has conducted his press conference ahead of Arsenal's match against Newcastle United (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

There is naturally a lot of excitement surrounding the potential debut of Arsenal's new striker, Viktor Gyokeres, this week. The Swede completed his move from Sporting CP in a deal worth €63.5million (£55million) plus €10million (8.7million) in add-ons.

Gyokeres fulfils the desire of millions of fans around the world who have wanted to see Arsenal grab themselves a brand-new centre-forward. Expectations are that the 27-year-old can be the man to take the club to the next level, which, of course, is the Premier League or Champions League titles.

However, there might be a good reason to not risk any players who Mikel Arteta values highly on Thursday when the Gunners take on Tottenham Hotspur. After they have already witnessed Riccardo Calafiori taken off with a tweak , Arteta describes, on Sunday against Newcastle the risks of pre-season revealed themselves.

Furthermore, 15-year-old Max Dowman was treated to a warm Premier League welcome by Newcastle's Joelinton. The Brazilian midfielder was taking no prisoners when the two sides met and sent an arm into the teenager's face.

Thursday is by no means a friendly, considering it is Arsenal against Tottenham, and Cristian Romero still resides in the Spurs squad. There is a genuine thought process behind who should play. Gyokeres is a vitally important part of the Arsenal puzzle this season.

Both Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber are still working their way back from injury. Martin Odegaard is only just finding form again after a difficult season which included a serious ankle injury that cost him around two months of action.

Then there are Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, who both suffered serious hamstring injuries requiring surgery. It might say friendly on paper, but when these two sides meet, even in a non-competitive context, there is an expectation that surrounds both clubs to win the game at any cost.

If that cost is believed to form quite the physical battle, Arteta might want to reconsider just how much he exposes his squad to the rigours of a derby. The worst-case scenario is someone takes things that one step too far at the cost of a player's fitness, with just weeks remaining until the new season officially starts.