Gyokeres opens his account for dominant Arsenal in Emirates cup win: Player ratings

Arsenal took control of the Emirates Cup match straight from the kick-off against Athletic Club who struggled to lay a glove on them.

With Martin Zubimendi in the team from the start, Arsenal played with a much higher tempo than they have so far in pre-season.

This Arsenal side is playing with far greater purpose than in recent seasons. Arteta has them driving forward, passing with intent and picking out runners breaking in behind.

Arsenal 1-0 Athletic Club

With 32 minutes on the clock, Zubimendi found himself in the inside-right channel and lofted in a tantalising cross with pace. Viktor Gyokeres lost his marker with some fantastic movement and flashed a powerful header into the net past the despairing right hand of Unai Simón.

Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club

Then, just a couple of minutes later, Martin Odegaard cleverly lobbed the ball through to Gabriel Martinelli as the Athletic Club keeper rushed out. Noticing that Simón was in no-mans-land, Martinelli fed Bukayo Saka to roll the ball into an empty net

Athletic Club did well not to concede again before half-time as Arsenal attacked quickly and in waves.

Half-time: Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club

At half-time, Mikel Arteta made two changes. Ben White and Noni Madueke replaced Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli respectively.

Gabriel, looking imperious, brought the ball out of defence and slid the ball out wide to Madueke. The England international's cross was met with a fierce diving header from Gyokeres which thumped against the post and out to safety.

Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club

With ten minutes remaining of the game, substitute Kai Havertz latched on to a lobbed pass forward from Madueke before slotting home across the face of Simón and into the far corner.

Arsenal nearly made it four when Bukayo Saka sprinted through but, unusually for Arsenal's main man, he fluffed his lines.

This was Arsenal's best performance of pre-season and the Gunners will head into next week's Premier League curtain raiser at Old Trafford in very good spirits.

Full Time: Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club

Player Ratings

David Raya (GK) - 8/10 - Played most of the game as sweeper such was Arsenal's dominance. Very swift to start attacks with long passes.

Jurien Timber (RB/LB) - 6.5/10 - Timber was unbeatable in duels and twice came close to scoring himself. Switched to left-back by Arteta at half-time where he did very well. Replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly after 65 minutes.

William Saliba (CB) - 7/10 - Incredibly assured on the ball and rock solid without it.

Gabriel (CB) - 7/10 - Came through the match unscathed and looked rock solid alongside Saliba. Not hugely tested by a below par Athletic Club side. Replaced by Christhian Mosquera after 60 minutes.

Riccardo Calafiori (GK) - 6/10 - Got forward well and blazed a speculative shot high and wide with the scores level. Gave the ball away sloppily in his own penalty area which nearly cost his team. Replaced by Ben White at half-time