Emirates Cup: Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club Bilbao as Gyokeres grabs first Gunners goal

Read Nick Manfredi's Emirates Cup match report as Viktor Gyokeres scores his first Arsenal goal 

Viktor Gyokeres notched his first Gunners goal against Bilbao, before Bukayo Saka grabbed a second moments later, prior to a late third, as Arsenal eased to victory in the Emirates Cup on Saturday evening in a sunny North London. 

Read Nick Manfredi's match report from the Emirates press box 

Turns out Viktor Gyokeres can use his head after all.

Arsenal’s new number 14 set Arsenal well on their way to a comfortable Emirates Cup victory over Athletic Bilbao with a lovely, cushioned header on a beautiful summer’s evening in N5.

Arteta named a strong side in Arsenal’s final pre-season game ahead of next week’s crunch opener at Old Trafford.

The Gunners started brightly with Bukayo Saka striking the post after a mazy run down the right. Zubimendi once again looked an imperious figure in the middle of the park, constantly making interceptions, and his sumptuous cross for Gyokeres’ header summed up his near perfect display.

Already, the Spaniard looks a top-quality addition to Arsenal’s ranks. Saka added a second moments after the first following a startlingly quick move through the heart of the Bilbao defence.

That quickfire double really knocked the stuffing out of the Bilbao players, not that they had much to begin with.

The second half was a comfortable watch with Gyokeres almost adding another, but his header struck the post following a magnificently floated cross from Noni Madueke who again played off the left coming on for Martinelli at the break.

It will be interesting to see if he starts at Old Trafford.

There was time for a third and it came from Kai Havertz who had come on to replace the man who may well have taken his place as Arsenal’s main number nine, as he tucked home with composure on the break.

Will the presence of Gyokeres spur on Havertz to elevate his game?

Arteta will hope the two of them can spur each other on, I’m sure.

There was still time for a meaningless penalty shootout which we won 6-5 with Zubimendi converting the winning kick.

All that was left for Arsenal to do was lift the prestigious Emirates Cup. It doesn’t get much bigger than that!