Emirates Cup: Gyökeres Scores as Arsenal Secure 3-0 Win Over Athletic Bilbao

Arsenal wrapped up their pre-season campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Athletic Club 3-0 to lift the 2025 Emirates Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring with a powerful header from a “perfect inch-perfect cross” by Martin Zubimendi, marking his first goal in an Arsenal shirt. Just two minutes later, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead, and substitute Kai Havertz completed the victory with a composed late finish.

Arsenal’s match report noted, “We controlled the advantage comfortably,” adding that Athletic Club “barely threatened us in the second half.”

Bright First Half

From the first whistle, Saka was a constant threat. The England winger “darted into the danger area from the right,” forcing Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón into early action.

Gabriel Martinelli also tested the visitors before Zubimendi’s midfield work set up the opening goal. Declan Rice switched play to Saka, who laid it back to Zubimendi. The Spaniard’s delivery was met by Gyökeres, who powered the header into the net for his first goal in red and white.

With Athletic rattled, Martinelli soon found Saka, who slotted home with composure to make it 2-0 before the break.

Dominance After the Interval

Second-half substitute Noni Madueke immediately made an impact, and Gyökeres came close to a second when his diving header struck the post. Havertz, introduced in the 70th minute, was denied once when Saka launched a counter-attack, but the German forward quickly bounced back. He “was off balance but still picked out the bottom right corner with aplomb,” securing a comfortable 3-0 win.

Penalty Shootout Practice

Despite the comfortable victory, both teams agreed to a post-match penalty shootout, where Zubimendi converted the decisive spot-kick to give Arsenal a 6-5 win.

Eyes on Old Trafford

With the Emirates Cup now in the bag, Arsenal’s attention turns to their Premier League opener away at Manchester United next Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

As the club put it: “Premier League football is back next weekend!”