Arteta Confident Arsenal Are Unlocking Gyokeres' Full Potential
Mikel Arteta has expressed strong confidence that Arsenal are finally moving in the right direction to extract the absolute best from striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish international, who joined the Premier League leaders from Sporting Lisbon last summer, initially struggled to find his footing but has since hit a remarkable run of form.
Gyokeres' Impressive Goal-Scoring Form
Since the beginning of 2026, Gyokeres has netted an impressive eight goals across all competitions for Arsenal. In the Premier League alone this season, he has already scored ten times, surpassing the total of any Arsenal player from the previous campaign. This surge includes a standout performance where he scored twice during the recent north London derby, showcasing his growing influence and clinical finishing.
Arteta attributed this positive momentum to a combination of factors. "I think one thing leads to another," the Arsenal manager explained. "When you score the first one or the performances are good, you have more time with your team-mates, you understand the games, the opponent, the league better. Everything helps."
The Right Trajectory for Development
Arteta emphasised that while Gyokeres' current form is encouraging, there is still significant room for growth and improvement. The manager highlighted the ongoing process of mutual understanding between the player and the team as crucial for unlocking his full capabilities.
"We know his qualities. He is undoubtedly an incredible striker," Arteta stated. "We need to feed to his quality, we need to understand him better, he needs to understand the team, the league better, I think we are in the right trajectory."
Confidence and Defensive Nightmares
When questioned about whether Gyokeres had faced confidence issues during his slower start, Arteta redirected the inquiry to the player himself while offering insight from training sessions. The manager revealed that defenders find facing Gyokeres particularly challenging, which serves as a testament to his quality.
"That's a question for him. Obviously I know the demands he puts on himself, the expectation that he has to help the team and I am confident because a lot of the times, our defenders, when they have to train against our players, (you ask), 'How do you feel when (you face him)?' and (they say), 'It's a nightmare'," Arteta said. "That's a really good way to understand the quality of a player or how it is to defend him."
This feedback from teammates underscores Gyokeres' formidable presence and potential, reinforcing Arteta's belief that Arsenal are on the correct path to maximising his contributions as the season progresses.
