Mikel Arteta: Viktor Gyokeres must endure the scrutiny as Arsenal striker

Mikel Arteta: Viktor Gyokeres must endure the scrutiny as Arsenal striker

The 27-year-old Swedish striker has netted seven goals in 21 appearances, a tally well below his prolific output at Sporting, but Arteta remains patient and supportive.

The manager acknowledged that playing at a high-profile side like Arsenal inevitably brings intense scrutiny, something the striker will have to manage.

Gyokeres has been under the spotlight since joining, and expectations were never for him to immediately replicate his Sporting form.

Still, Arteta is confident the striker's finishing ability will emerge as he settles in, pointing to both his work ethic and potential to deliver key goals in the coming months.

Fans and pundits alike have noted the contrast between Gyokeres' current form and his past exploits, but Arteta insists the Swedish forward has the temperament to handle the pressure and eventually prove his worth at the Emirates.

"He's going to continue to have a lot of noise around him for the next five years, I'm sure about that," said Arteta.

"Since day one, when you sign as number nine for Arsenal, with the background that he has and the expectation that we have as a team, that's not going away.

"That's part of his role, and that's part of life of being Arsenal number nine, and that's it.

"We try to give him all the support, all the tools, all the solutions and give him confidence.

"When I see him train every day, how he is in the meetings, how much he wants to do well, the way he's working every single match, he will click.

"He will come in and the one thing he's missing at the moment is to score more goal, but he's doing a lot of things right."
 

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