Ronaldo, Wright & Arteta Rally Behind Gyökeres as Arsenal’s Season Begins with Patchy Pre-Season

Cristiano Ronaldo, never shy of speaking his mind especially on Sporting Lisbon matters has described Viktor Gyökeres as a “special player” despite his exit to Arsenal. He added, “the team will have to adapt,” referencing how Sporting must continue after losing their key striker. But Ronaldo remains optimistic: “I believe Sporting will be competitive… we only miss those who are there.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Ian Wright has been equally supportive, urging fans to trust Gyökeres’s ability to deliver. He said:

“People are talking about the league Gyökeres played in… it doesn’t matter. What I’ve heard and what I love is that man wants to be there… I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Wright also drew a personal parallel to his own early days at Arsenal:

“I spent four years at Palace scoring goals… when I got to Arsenal I was in the place where I could make up time.”

Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has kept things grounded and process-oriented. Reflecting on Gyökeres’s debut outings, he acknowledged the striker’s lack of match fitness but remained confident:

> “On his fitness level… he’s done now six or five sessions… on Saturday again he will take another step and he will be in a better condition.”

After Arsenal’s friendly defeat to Villarreal, Arteta noted:

“He hasn’t trained really with the team for two months… but I’m unconcerned by his slow start, he’s mentally ready and improving daily.”

From Gyökeres himself, early impressions are encouraging. Despite limited training so far, he revealed Arteta’s key instruction: “just try to use my qualities as much as I can.”

Fan Perspective

On Reddit, one Arsenal supporter shared:

“I think Gyökeres would be terrific … let’s see what the lad brings.”

This expresses the cautious optimism many Gunners fans are feeling—as the striker still needs to produce on the pitch.