Niko Kovac masterminded Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 win over Arsenal (Credits: Sportimage)
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac offered one struggling Arsenal star a surprising vote of confidence following Sunday’s 3-2 win.
Mikel Arteta’s side slumped to a second consecutive pre-season defeat, this time in front of their own fans at Emirates Stadium.
Although he got on the scoresheet with a second half penalty, it was another disappointing afternoon for Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden international looked well off the pace against Real Betis last week in his first outing since his World Cup exploits against Sweden and was again the focus of much criticism in the aftermath of yesterday’s reversal.
Despite another poor showing, Kovac singled out the former Sporting Lisbon star for surprise praise when asked if any Arsenal players caught his eye.
He said: ‘There are a lot of top players when you see Gyokeres he is strong, he is quick, he is fast he is very direct.
‘We know him very well but I can mention all the players.’
Viktor Gyokeres struggled in Arsenal’s defeat against Borussia Dortmund (Credits: Alamy Live News.)
Arteta, meanwhile, has backed ‘warrior’ Bruno Guimaraes to ‘ignite something different’ in the Premier League champions.
Brazil midfielder Guimaraes was introduced to Gunners fans ahead of Sunday’s 3-2 defeat after completing his £75million move from Newcastle.
The 28-year-old, who has signed a four-year deal, bolsters a star-studded midfield which already boasts the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze.
Bruno Guimaraes was unveiled ahead of the game against Dortmund (Credits: Alamy Live News.)
‘You can see the immediate reaction,” Arteta told the club website after Guimaraes was given a warm reception by supporters.
‘I think he describes himself as a warrior. I think he’s a warrior with a tremendous quality as well and intuition and leadership and charisma that is going to help us, that is going to really ignite something different in the team.
‘I think he’s going to push everybody inside the team as well and that’s the type of player that we need.’
PSG and France forward Barcola is another possible transfer option and former Arsenal striker Perry Groves has given the Gunners real hope of beating Liverpool to a stunning deal.
Liverpool were thought to be leading the race to secure Barcola’s signature but Groves says he has been told that the winger would rather move to London.
Asked whether Barcola would be better suited to Arsenal or Liverpool, Groves told talkSPORT: ‘I’ve got no dog in the fight, but I would say the Gooners because Liverpool are a team that are in transition.
New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola (Picture: Getty)
‘Andoni Iraola going in there, imposing his own philosophy, his own style with all the new signings coming in.
‘If you were Barcola and you thought, what out of those two sides have got the most chance of winning the Premier League or Champions League, at the moment you’d say it was Arsenal.
‘So it’s whether Arsenal want to go in, if they go in for him, then there would have been advances being made to his people.
‘Because they don’t want to be seen losing out on Vinicius Junior being played like a little kitten with a ball of wool, but Arsenal have to be in for those sorts of players. That’s the level Arsenal are at now.’
Groves, who won two league titles at Arsenal, added: ‘I’ve got a source that says he [Barcola] wants to live in London.
‘I can’t tell you (who), I can’t divulge my sources. I’ve got a source. I’ve got a mole. Barcola wants to live in London.’
Arsenal tried to sign Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)
‘Mikel [Arteta] and the boys have finally got it over the line, which I’m very happy about,’ he told Ladbrokes. ‘But they shouldn’t just win it once and be satisfied with that.
‘They have to keep on winning it now and dominate just like how Man United and Man City have in the past.
‘We’ve got the players, we’ve got a deep squad and hopefully this summer, the board are going to strengthen further, because I still think we need a couple of wingers and a proper number eight.
‘I feel like Declan Rice is playing in a position which isn’t natural to him, so we need a proper number eight alongside him.
‘For me, when it comes to realistic signings this summer, with those positions in mind, I feel like Bruno Guimaraes is someone I’d love to see at Arsenal.
‘And also Bradley Barcola… I think he would be very good for Arsenal. Barcola and Bruno Guimaraes would be a very good transfer window for Arsenal.’
Arteta is interested in signing a new winger after selling Leandro Trossard to Besiktas earlier in the summer, while Arsenal have received an approach for Gabriel Martinelli.
Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League last season, 25 points behind an Arsenal team that clinched their first title since 2004.
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United are scouring the market for a left-back this summer (Picture: Getty)
Former Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley has urged the club to ramp up their efforts to sign Lewis Hall, claiming the Newcastle star would be the ‘perfect’ addition at Old Trafford.
However, the true extent of United’s transfer ambitions are yet to be fully fulfilled, with club bosses desperate to further close the gap on Arsenal and Manchester City following an end-of-season resurgence under Michael Carrick last term.
Luke Shaw is currently the only left-back specialist in Carrick’s squad – with Harry Amass expected to leave on loan again this season – and left-back is the new area of focus at the Theatre of Dreams.
England international Hall reportedly finds himself at the top of United’s wishlist for the role on the back of three excellent seasons at St James’ Park.
Newcastle have told the Red Devils that Hall is not for sale (Picture: Getty)
The England full-back is reportedly ‘keen’ on a move to Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
According to Bardsley, though, United should not abandon their pursuit of Hall without a fight given the youngster would suit Carrick’s squad ‘to a tee’
‘There’s still time in the transfer window but they need at least one more midfielder, someone who is more defensively-minded, and another left-back,’ the ex-United, Sunderland and Scotland full-back told Casinolyze.
‘Luke Shaw has looked sharp in pre-season but with his injury record you always worry. I don’t think you can always rely on him for a full season, especially when United are back in the Champions League, because of the amount of games they’ll have to play.
Bardsley says Hall would be ‘perfect’ for Carrick’s squad (Picture: Getty)
‘Lewis Hall from Newcastle United would be the perfect fit. It’s just a question of getting him out of Newcastle United this summer when they’ve already sold so many players and lost Eddie Howe.
‘He’s a Premier League proven player though and a great age.
‘I think the way he plays suits Manchester United to a tee.’
Lewis-Skelly is better used as a central midfielder, according to Bardsley (Picture: Getty)
Bardsley is adamant that Hall would be a far more sensible signing that Lewis-Skelly, despite the latter’s undoubted ‘quality’.
‘I prefer Lewis Hall to Myles Lewis-Skelly when you look at what Manchester United need this summer. Hall is better suited to playing left-back,’ he added.
‘I think if you look at Lewis-Skelly, he’s a much better player when you play him in midfield, and I don’t think United need another young player going into the middle of the park.
‘They need a proven defensive midfielder who’s got that experience to come in and own that position.
‘Listen, he’s a quality player. There’s no doubt about it. He won the Premier League last season and started in a Champions League final in midfield. But for me, if I had to pick between the two of them, it’s Lewis Hall every day of the week and twice on Sunday.’
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Mikel Arteta bolstered what is already a strong and deep Arsenal midfield with the signing of Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
The Brazilian’s arrival in north London has led to speculation a current Arsenal midfielder could be moved on.
Zubimendi enjoyed a bright start to his Arsenal career following last summer’s £60m move from Real Sociedad but faded towards the end of the season, losing his place in the team during the run-in and for Arsenal’s Champions League final against PSG.
New Arsenal signing Bruno Guimaraes with Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)
Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher said: ‘Do you think it’s the end for Zubimendi there? In terms of being what he was supposed to be when he was brought in.
‘He was supposed to come in and be this controller. I don’t see him ever getting that place back now.’
Guimaraes became Arsenal’s third signing of the summer following winger Christos Tzolis and back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Arteta launched an audacious move for Vinicius Junior only for the Brazil icon to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.
After joining Arsenal in a deal worth £75m, Guimaraes said: ‘I’m very excited. I’m at the point of my life where I need a challenge like this.
‘I want to win trophies, I want to make history and I think I’m in the right place to do it. I’m so excited to start.
‘It’s massive what I have done so far, but I want more. I want to win for Arsenal. I want to win more trophies in my career, and I think I’m in the right place, at my peak at 28 years old.
‘I’m so excited to join. Here, wearing this shirt, you have to go for winning trophies, winning everything we can and make history.
‘I want to put my name in the club history. Someday, when I leave, I want players to come here and say I want to do exactly what Bruno did for the club.
‘I think it’s the best thing that a player can do for the club: create history and inspire the young.’
Arteta remains keen to sign a new attacking player before the start of the new season, though, and William Gallas believes Marcus Rashford would be a decent alternative.
Arsenal tried to sign Vinicius Junior (Picture: Getty)
‘Arsenal won the Premier League with that squad, but maybe they have to make some changes if they want to play in every competition,’ Gallas told iPredicta.
‘They have to bring quality players and a lot of players at the same time. Those players will want to be in the starting eleven, so you have to deal with their ego.
‘That’s why what is very important is to bring the right player who will be happy to play from the bench, because joining a big club like Arsenal will add pressure every game you play, and we have to know if that player can play under that pressure.
Man Utd and England forward Marcus Rashford (Picture: PA)
‘Of course, Marcus Rashford would be a great option for Arsenal’s attack. I think he had a great season, and I’m sure some clubs will try to jump on that situation.
‘I don’t think he will stay at Manchester United. I’m not sure why no one has signed him yet, maybe because the price is too high.
‘He wants to leave Man United, otherwise, he would not have gone on loan to Barcelona. He will try to find a solution to leave the club and to sign a long contract with another British club.
Vinicius, meanwhile, signed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid after being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.
Following the announcement, the Brazilian posted on social media: ‘Eight years at the Bernabeu are too short… Six more years, and then forever.’
Real Madrid added in a statement: ‘Vinicius Jr has become one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in our history.’
Arsenal, who won the Premier League last season and reached the Champions League final, have signed Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier so far this summer.
Arteta’s side face Manchester City in the Community Shield next weekend before beginning their title defence against newly-promoted Coventry City on August 21.
