SINGAPORE – Arsenal fans are not the only ones over the moon about their newest signing Viktor Gyokeres – defender William Saliba is also positive that the Swedish striker will help the Gunners end their trophy drought.

After weeks of relentless buzz, the English Premier League giants signed the 27-year-old goal machine from Sporting Lisbon for a reported £55 million (S$94.9 million) and

unveiled him to rapturous applause

before their 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle United at the National Stadium on July 27.

Saliba is only too glad that Gyokeres – who plundered 54 goals in 52 matches last season and finished second in the 2024-25 European Golden Shoe standings behind Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe – will not be on the opposing side when they next share a pitch.

“We know how good he is and how it’s scary to play against him, so of course, I’m happy to have him in my club and I’m sure that he will help us to win games and trophies,” said the 24-year-old French centre-back in an interview after

Arsenal beat Newcastle

to bring the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football to a close.

“When you face a striker who scores goals, you have to be focused. But now he’s in our team, and he’ll score for us, so that’s good.”

Gyokeres, who signed a five-year deal with the Gunners, netted 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, helping them win the Portuguese league title in both of his seasons with the club.

He watched from the sidelines as his new teammates put on a winning display at the National Stadium, erasing an early deficit from Anthony Elanga’s opener with a quick-fire double from Mikel Merino and an own goal from Alex Murphy.

The Magpies equalised in the second half through Jacob Murphy, but skipper Martin Odegaard converted a penalty earned after a surging run by 15-year-old substitute Max Dowman for the Gunners’ second win in as many pre-season games. 

“It’s a good test before the Premier League, because we know when we play against (Newcastle), it’s always tough,” said Saliba. 

The pressure is on the Gunners to deliver a trophy following three runner-up finishes in the Premier League, with their last piece of silverware being the FA Cup in 2020, but Saliba said that such expectations show that they are moving in the right direction.

“Pressure is good, it means we are in a good place, and we need to keep going like this. If we weren’t good, we wouldn’t have pressure (on us).”

Arsenal have spent about £200 million in the summer transfer window with six new acquisitions, having also signed midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi, defender Cristhian Mosquera, winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Saliba is hopeful that the increased squad depth will translate into silverware, saying: “We have a lot of new players, so that will help us to hopefully win the league... We are in a good mood and in good shape. 

“Our mindset is to win the Premier League and we will give everything from the first game.”

On his stay in the Republic, Saliba said: “Singapore was good – the weather, the food and especially the fans. 

“We enjoyed our time here, and I hope we will see you again soon.”

Saliba, who joined Arsenal in 2019, has reportedly been a target of Real Madrid, but it seems that the Spanish giants might have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

When asked if he was going to renew his Arsenal contract, which ends in 2027, Saliba said that while no concrete moves have been made, there is “good conversation with the club” and he hopes to stay.

The Gunners will next face Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on July 31 in the first north London derby to be played outside Britain, before wrapping up their pre-season preparations with home friendlies against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates in early August.

They will kick off their Premier League campaign against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Aug 17, with Gyokeres facing his former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, who will be in the opposite dugout as Red Devils manager.