Arsenal rounded off their pre-season preparations with a convincing 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The win came courtesy of first-half goals from new signing Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka, before Kai Havertz added a third after the break.
Swedish striker Gyokeres opened his account for the club since his £64 million move from Sporting Lisbon, powering a header past Unai Simon from a Martin Zubimendi cross. The goal offered a glimpse of the potential partnership between the two summer arrivals.
Arsenal doubled their lead just two minutes later. Martin Odegaard chipped a pass over the top for Gabriel Martinelli, who beat the advancing Simon and squared for Saka to roll into an empty net. The hosts controlled the remainder of the first half, though the tempo dropped after the restart.
Havertz sealed the victory with a late strike, ensuring Mikel Arteta's side end pre-season on a high ahead of their Premier League opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford next Sunday. The Gunners also won a subsequent penalty shootout, with Zubimendi converting the decisive spot-kick.
Arteta will hope the momentum carries into the league campaign, with Arsenal aiming to improve on three successive second-placed finishes. The new Premier League season begins on 15 August.
