Mikel Arteta has publicly defended Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres amidst recent criticism over his goal-scoring form, insisting that the goals will come and highlighting the striker's overall contribution to the team. The Swedish international, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Sporting Lisbon in July 2025 for a reported £64 million, has had a mixed start to his Arsenal career.

Gyokeres has managed to score three goals in his first seven Premier League appearances but has struggled to find the net in high-profile matches against Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. In the recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City, the striker failed to register a single shot, leading to questions about his impact in crucial games.

Despite the criticism, Arteta has firmly backed Gyokeres, emphasizing the need for the team to provide him with better service and create more clear-cut chances. "Well, there were a lot of very good balls in the box, especially I remember three of them that he was very, very close to doing against City," Arteta said. "To have very big open chances is extremely difficult, but he's certainly trying his best and trying to do that and we have to provide more for him, that's it". He also noted that in many situations, the final pass was missing, preventing Gyokeres from getting into goal-scoring positions.

Arteta also defended Gyokeres after Arsenal's 1-0 victory against Manchester United, despite the striker's quiet performance. In that game, Gyokeres played for 60 minutes but didn't create any chances or have any shots. Arteta acknowledged that Gyokeres thrives when the game is stretched and he receives balls over the top. He said that Arsenal failed to exploit Gyokeres' qualities in the final third because they didn't manage to play the last ball to him.

The Arsenal manager has also highlighted Gyokeres' work ethic and his contribution beyond goal-scoring. He noted that the striker is heavily involved in creating opportunities, linking up play, and battling opponents both in the air and on the ground. Arteta said that Gyokeres has a high work ethic and puts great demands on himself every day.

Some pundits have also observed that Gyokeres has not been getting the service he needs. Jamie Carragher, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, pointed out that Gyokeres has not had a "kick" in the big games and hasn't been given a chance to score.

Gyokeres' career before joining Arsenal demonstrates his goal-scoring abilities. He scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, winning back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and finishing as the league's top scorer in both campaigns. He also has 15 goals in 26 appearances for Sweden.

With Kai Havertz sidelined due to a knee injury, Gyokeres has had to carry a significant load for Arsenal. Despite the pressure, Arteta has expressed confidence in Gyokeres' character and believes that the goals will come as the team continues to create more opportunities for him.