Try GOLD - Free
Gyökeres labours as the new-look Arsenal fall short against old boy Pepe
The Guardian
|August 07, 2025
Home debut for £64m striker falls flat in friendly, as Arteta talks up ambitions for season
New season, same old Arsenal? On an evening when Viktor Gyökeres was meant to announce himself as the solution to all of Mikel Arteta's problems, instead it was a figure from Arsenal's past who stole the show.
At £72m - £8m more than they may end up paying for the Sweden striker - Nicolas Pépé was an expensive Arsenal signing, a few months before Arteta replaced Unai Emery in 2019. Most of the fans who packed out the Emirates Stadium for this pre-season friendly will not have many fond memories of the Ivory Coast international's spell in north London, but he clearly had a point to prove here.
Pépé's early goal and strikes from Karl Etta Eyong and the former Tottenham loanee Arnaut Danjuma sealed an impressive win for Villarreal, and left Arteta with plenty of questions to resolve before Arsenal's opening game of the season next weekend against Manchester United.
This story is from the August 07, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Stand-in Steve gets mauling from MPs over Mandy
Just what has Stephen Doughty done to upset Keir Starmer? Are there no limits to the prime minister’s contempt?
2 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
Seville suggests 9.6sec in sight but says Bolt is incomparable
On Sunday night, Oblique Seville became the first Jamaican to win the men’s 100m world title since Usain Bolt. But it turns out the 24-year-old’s mind is just as quick as his leg speed.
2 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
Dispute takes a fresh twist as former staff sue new league
A group of 18 former employees of the British Basketball League (BBL) are taking legal action against the competition that replaced it, Super League Basketball, in the latest development in the extraordinary civil war that has engulfed the sport.
1 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
Trump fans the flames of division, says Khan
Donald Trump arrived in the UK last night to a barrage of criticism from Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who has accused the US president of doing more than anyone else to encourage the intolerant far right across the globe.
1 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
Palace make Millwall pay for Mateta injury taunts
Any Crystal Palace supporters looking for good omens will know that beating Millwall is a good place to start.
2 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
Deportation halted in blow to 'one in, one out'
An Eritrean man had his deportation to France under Labour's “one in, one out” scheme halted at the 11th hour after he won a high court challenge last night.
1 min
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
JLR production freeze extended after data hack
Jaguar Land Rover has extended its shutdown on car production, as Britain’s biggest carmaker grapples with the aftermath of a cyber-attack.
1 min
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
Appreciation Indecently handsome A-lister who seduced Hollywood
As the 1960s turned into the 1970s, it wasn't cool for star actors to be good-looking.
1 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
'You just keep on thinking about her'
Family speaks of loss
2 mins
September 17, 2025
The Guardian
'From death to death'
Nowhere is safe for the displaced
3 mins
September 17, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size