Arsenal one day from transfer dream as Mikel Arteta ready to introduce £63.4m difference-maker

Arsenal are set to complete their pre-season preparations this week as they take on both Villarreal and Athletic Club. Both matches are being held at the Emirates Stadium and give Mikel Arteta a chance to use his squad in a more controlled environment.

Last season, concerns were raised about the pitches in the United States and their impact on players, with similar criticisms of the surfaces in Singapore and Hong Kong this time around. The officiating was also in question, and the Gunners saw both Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard suffer problems while out in Asia.

It will be the first time that the Emirates Stadium crowd gets the chance to get a real glimpse at the club's new summer signings.

Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga were all able to fly out to Singapore with the group. However, Noni Madueke, who joined before the tour from Chelsea, was involved in the Club World Cup and, as a result, was granted a late holiday. He is believed to have cut this short to join up with his new teammates this week and could feature in the friendlies if passed fit.

However, the headline act as everyone should know is Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal fans are now just one day away from seeing the Swedish striker in the flesh after his £63.4million move from Sporting CP.

We got to see a small cameo of him against Tottenham in which he came on, had one touch and created a goal-scoring opportunity, which does bode well for the future. However, now we could see him from the start - although Kai Havertz still has a big say in what the team might yet do.

There is the dilemma for Arteta of showing too much of your hand too soon. Were the Gunners to be facing perhaps a team at home (who are not Manchester United), they might be more willing to reveal their secrets.

Yet with a trip to Old Trafford being the opening weekend for the Gunners… Arteta would be minded not to reveal too much about what they have worked on at the training ground to refine this summer. It remains predominantly about fitness and rhythm, but Arsenal could yet delight supporters with a first goal for Gyokeres, certainly.