Mikel Arteta responds to those criticizing Viktor Gyokeres over inability to score goals
Mikel Arteta has called for patience with Viktor Gyokeres as the Swedish striker continues to adapt to the league.
The 27-year-old swapped Lisbon for London in the summer in a deal reportedly worth up to £63.8 million, but has managed just four goals in 13 league appearances.
Gyokeres hit form early with braces against Nottingham Forest and Atletico Madrid, but has since struggled, with a muscle injury in November sidelining him for a month and hindering his progress.
With Mikel Merino excelling up front, Gabriel Jesus back to full fitness and Kai Havertz nearing a return, doubts have begun to emerge over whether the Swedish forward should be in line to start as first-choice for the Gunners.
Reflecting on his initial expectations when Gyokeres joined, Arteta said: “Well, two things. First of all, a lot of excitement as it happened because we were bringing a proven goalscorer that had probably the best stats in Europe.
“And the second one, a player that comes to a different league, the most demanding league in the world, what happens if he doesn’t score five or six goals?
“That was my only question, how are you going to react if you don’t score five or six goals? Can you cope with that? And then what’s going to happen in the next 100 games? And that’s what we have to see.”
“The sample is very small so leave him alone, let him do what he does best, be behind him and I’m sure things will turn out in the right way,” he advised.
In addition, Gyokeres represents a very different type of forward to anyone Arteta has signed during close to six years at the club.
He is the first true centre-forward Arsenal have brought in since Gabriel Jesus arrived in 2022, and offers a far more traditional striker profile to the Brazilian – a powerful, direct forward who thrives on running in behind, attacking crosses and occupying centre-backs physically, rather than dropping deep to link play.
Arteta says the key to unlocking Gyokeres’ best form is helping him adapt to both the Premier League and Arsenal’s system.
“Working, understanding what he needs more, understanding the things he needs to tweak in this league, in our team, to be more prolific and to be in a more dangerous position,” he explained.
“The other night, he had two big chances as well and put them as much as possible in that position and he will do for sure what he wants because he wants it so badly as well.”
