Emirates Cup Player Ratings: Viktor Gyokers shines in the North London sun

Find out who impressed with The View From The Armchair's Player Ratings as Arsenal ease to victory in the Emirates Cup 

Good evening and it’s a warm welcome from The Emirates, well a spectacularly bad picture from my sofa in Somerset in truth, but putting aside the fact it seems to be getting filmed on an original iPhone, we can just about make out who the pixelated figures are, and we are good to go.

It’s Athletic Club today, and if, like me, you pronounced that as Athletic Clooooob in your head, like Willem Balague or the Wigan manager would, what’s his name? Martinez pronounced it, give yourself a pat on the head and a biscuit cos you won the race today.

David Raya: 8/10 - Clean sheet most welcome

William Saliba: 8/10 - Athletic Cloooob couldn’t get near to beating him at the back today, clean sheet to boot.

Gabriel: 8/10 - Replaced on 62 mins after his work was done for the day, same again next week at United please

Jurrien Timber: 8/10 - staking a claim for a starting spot next week against United, did his part keeping Bilbao out when on the pitch, replaced on 62 mins.

Riccardo Califiori: 7/10 - might well be our starting 11 next against United at Old Trafford, if so he did his part before being replaced, Athletic Cloooob no match for our rampaging Italian today.  

Declan Rice: 8/10 - a rising tide lifts all ships, our half priced midfield general will be enjoying playing in this team this season, Zubimendi frees him up more than ever to kick on forwards. Still came galloping back when he needed to though

Bukayo Saka: 8/10 - more time and space on the ball, as a result of Gyokeres being the main threat, cool finish on 37 mins past the rounded keeper. 2-0 made it a solid afternoon's work all in all.

Martin Zubimend:  9/10 - beautiful whipped cross for the opener, loving his calm composure and leadership on the pitch already, Athletic Clooob couldn’t live with his marshalling of the midfield - today my MOTM

Martin Odegaard: 8.5/10 - the link up play with Gyokeres already starting to pay dividends, you should absolutely relish every opportunity you get to see this player in the flesh, very close to getting MOTM

Gabi Martinelli: 8/10 - lining up to score the second after a beautiful weighted pass from Odegaard, unselfishly laid it off for Saka to score, looked lively, great to see him be able to get a rest for the first time ever

Viktor Gyokeres: 8/10 - 34 mins bullet header, it’s his opener for the Gunners, his barnet completely unruffled, ready to pounce for more, 1-0. Replaced on 70 minutes for Havertz to a healthy reception from the Arsenal faithful.

Substitutes:

Ben White: 7/10- loving the managerial decision to keep all the players bubbling on all fronts, who knows who will be starting next week, keep them guessing, treat them mean to keep them keen, didn’t get skinned today

Myles Lewis Skelly: 7/10 - not a bad substitute to bring on, Mr Reliable, gamesmanship, winning fouls and tackles, one on ones, great engine, he has it all

Noni Madueke: 7/10 - plenty of threat down the left, going to provide plenty of competition for Martinelli down the left this season, that can only be a good thing in my book, glad we signed him and not Nico Williams he was woeful today.

Mosquera: 7.5/10 - leggy, just leggy. Bonus point for having incredibly long legs

Kai Havertz: 8.5/10 - Shades  of Usain Bolt on 81 minutes, when he powered through to make it 3-0 to The Arsenal. Even if his Barnet wasn't quite as sharp as Gyokeres - either way that was Athletic Cloooob completely put to the sword with his clinical finish

Ethan Nwaneri: 7.5/ 10 - freshly signed contract after his starting place against Villarreal last week, nice dice boss, nice dice I see what you did there, bonus point for committing to the project

Mikel Merino: 7/10 - on with 15 minutes left, just about enough time for this guy to potentially grab two late goals ala Leicester last season, and the POTM, while being simultaneously invisible to the punditry eye. It didn't happen but during the dreaded bonus penalty shoot out - almost as dreaded as those dastardly half and half scarves on sale before every game for the tourists - the goalscorer that is Merino stepped up to dispatch it Top Bins, almost with Germanic efficiency .

See the Gooner Fanzine Facebook page for live video of Arsenal's penalties.

1-1 Havertz makes it 2-2 with a stuttering run up.

Madueke - Chelsea reject Chelsea reject hello hello, (can't help myself sometimes when it’s Chelsea) makes amends as he shoots down the middle 3-3

Nwaneri - blazes it over from 12 yards, every other penalty has been a worldie, saved by the next Cloooob player whacking one past the post, we are still in it to win it.

Starboy - never in doubt. 4-4

Can Raya be the hero?

Not yet he can’t straight down the middle with power it’s 4-5 Saliba hits it top right and it’s 5-5 before Raya saves like a salmon, swimming up stream, one handed, beautiful.

Zubimendi to win it, MOTM never in doubt, with a swagger and it’s in the top left hand corner of the onion bag.

Arsenal win the penalty shoot out, the Emirates cup and all the marbles to leave Athletic Clooooob dejected. (Enough with the Clooob jokes editor's comment)

View From The Armchair's Verdict 

A thoroughly entertaining gallivant in the August sunshine today.

For me Zubimendi was the stand out player, what an addition to the squad, to say I’m excited for next week is an understatement.

I'm hoping to get a better picture than a pixelated mega drive for next Sunday, we live in hope, onwards to Old Trafford and three points.

Much love, safe travels up to Old Trafford - give it to them loud and proud Gooners!

COYG 

Good to note Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta even monitors post-match warm-downs here at the Emirates pic.twitter.com/13uOXaQsOR

— Layth (@laythy29) August 9, 2025