TBR Football can exclusively confirm when Arsenal plan to hand incoming new signing Viktor Gyokeres his debut.
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Gyokeres from Sporting CP for a fee of around £64million.
Indeed, Arsenal are expected to complete a move for Gyokeres by the weekend, bringing an end to the Gunners’ search for a new No. 9.
TBR Football can also reveal what Mikel Arteta has been talking to Gyokeres about in conversations over the past week.
Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty ImagesArsenal plan to hand Viktor Gyokeres debut against Tottenham
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Arsenal hope Viktor Gyokeres can be with them by Sunday.
Gyokeres has already arrived in London, and the plan is for him to undergo his medical on Saturday morning before flying to Asia.
Once with the Arsenal contingent, the plan is for him to make his Arsenal debut against Tottenham in Hong Kong.
“Arsenal want Gyokeres with the squad ASAP just to get him integrated,” Bailey exclusively told TBR Football.
“And he is set to make his actual debut against their biggest rivals Tottenham, which will be a special occasion for everyone – it is actually working out quite well.
“Mikel Arteta has been talking to Gyokeres since last week, getting him up to speed with his tactical mindset and just getting him used to his thinking.”
Who Arsenal are playing in their pre-season tour of Asia
Arsenal jetted off to Singapore on Saturday, with the Gunners set to play three matches in Asia.
Arsenal have already played AC Milan at the Singapore National Stadium, a game which saw the Gunners win 1-0 but sadly lose the ensuing penalty shootout.
The Gunners then take on Newcastle United at the same stadium on Sunday, and it is once again set to be a 12:30pm kick-off.
Arsenal then wrap up the tour with the first north London derby outside of the United Kingdom, taking on Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on Thursday 31 July, 12:30pm BST kick-off.