Mikel Arteta backs Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal striker discovers ‘magic’ formula

Mikel Arteta said he ‘loves’ Viktor Gyokeres’ character as he backed the Arsenal striker to keep firing in goals.

Gyokeres struggled for much of the first half of the season and had to fight just to keep his place in the team after Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus returned from injury.

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However, despite not starting in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sunderland, he scored twice off the bench to take it to six goals in his last eight appearances.

Gyokeres finished emphatically at the near post for his opener, before finding the net empty in stoppage time when Gabriel Martinelli squared him.

The 27-year-old now has 13 goals in all competitions and six in his last eight appearances, responding well to the criticism he has faced.

“Obviously when you put on that jersey it comes with a lot of responsibility and huge expectations,” Arteta said. “And you have to live with that.

“In your journey here, you’re going to have moments where it goes very well and others where you’re going to be tough. Because when you have an opponent who plays a role and he makes it really difficult for you.

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“But I like his character, the way he approaches every day and the fact that he is so focused on the present, on what he needs to do and he has a real desire to help the team, whatever his role is.”

Despite scoring twice and helping Arsenal move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arteta joked that he wasn’t sure how happy Gyokeres was about it.

“Yes, with Viktor, when you look at him, it’s very difficult to understand his emotions,” Arteta laughed.

“Because he looks you straight in the eye and you don’t really know. But he doesn’t seem too affected by the real ups or downs.

“And that’s what we need, stability. He’s very demanding of himself. He’s constantly trying to improve, and that’s really good.”

No Premier League player has scored more goals in all competitions than Gyokeres in 2026.

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Along with his brace against Sunderland, he looks much more confident in his ability to keep the ball and run through the channels, relishing the physical battle with defenders.

“That’s the magic word, I think,” Arteta replied when asked about the confidence returned to Gyokeres.

“When you feel confident, when you feel important, when you feel at your best, that’s when you can really take your game to the highest level.

“And yes, we all try, first of all, the teammates but all the staff, obviously, are really behind him at every moment to try to help him, to try to support him.

“He’s keeping his promises and he’s in a really good place now.”