Arsenal’s Gyokeres taken aback by Community Shield question

appeared shocked by suggestions that the Community Shield is considered by some to be a friendly, insisting Arsenal will be playing to win it.

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Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal are already well into their pre-season preparations, with three public friendlies and one behind-closed-doors game played and just one more match to come before the Community Shield this weekend.

But after Sunday’s game against Borussia Dortmund, Viktor Gyokeres was asked whether Arsenal will be treating the Community Shield as another friendly.

“Treat… against City?” Gyokeres responded, seemingly taken aback. “As a friendly? What do you mean? I don’t know what other people think, but of course, we want to win that game, for sure. There’s no question about that.”

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Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The English public do have a rather strange relationship with the Community Shield, compared to other countries and their ‘Super Cup’ games.

English fans tend to laugh off suggestions that the Shield is a trophy, whilst other countries would have no issue including their Super Cups among their titles.

Gyokeres previously played in the Portuguese Super Cup with Sporting CP, in a dramatic match against FC Porto. The striker provided two assists that day, but he was on the losing side in a 4-3 defeat.

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Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

It seems clear from his answer to the question that Gyokeres will be taking this weekend’s match very seriously, and that he’ll be hoping to add his first Super Cup trophy to his collection.

The 28-year-old has one Premier League title, two Portuguese league titles, one Portuguese cup, and one Swedish second-division title to his name so far, but there’s still plenty of time for more.