Viktor Gyokeres will make his first Arsenal start this evening as the Gunners host Villarreal, though Noni Madueke has been left on the bench.
Gyokeres made his bow for the Gunners last week, coming off the bench for the closing stages of Thursday’s defeat to Tottenham.
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Mikel Arteta has stressed how Arsenal will carefully build up the striker’s minutes, as he did not take part in pre-season training with Sporting before moving to the Gunners.
“It was a short one but at least that one is off now and when they play against Villarreal now, I’m sure it will be a bit different,” said Arteta after the loss to Spurs.
Madueke is in line to make his debut after he started training with his new Arsenal teammates this week, but will likely be made to wait until the second half of this evening’s contest.
The winger has been on holiday after appearing for Chelsea at the Club World Cup earlier this summer and he missed Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia.
Madueke is understood to have returned to training last week, ahead of schedule, so he could be fit and firing for the new season.
Gabriel and Jurrien Timber both make the bench after returning to training this week, while Riccardo Calafiori tweaked his knee during Arsenal’s tour of Asia and does not make the squad.
Leandro Trossard limped off during that loss to Spurs with what looked like a muscle issue. Arteta said: “He felt a little tweak, I think he tried to turn and he was pushed and he felt something muscular so we’ll have to assess him.”
Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Mosquera, Gabriel, Odegaard, Timber, Zinchenko, Madueke, Lokonga, Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman, Harriman-Annous
Injured: Jesus (knee)
Time and date: 6pm BST today Wednesday, August 4, 2025.
Venue: Emirates Stadium
How to watch: Arsenal website and app
