Mikel Arteta is confident that Arsenal are on the right track to unlock Viktor Gyokeres' full potential. The Sweden international striker has been on a remarkable scoring streak since joining the Premier League leaders from Sporting Lisbon last summer. Despite a slow start, he has now scored eight goals in all competitions since the start of 2026 and an impressive 10 in the league this season, surpassing any previous Arsenal player's total from last term. Arteta attributes this positive momentum to the natural progression of scoring and good performances, allowing Gyokeres to spend more time with his teammates and better understand the game, the opponent, and the league.
Arteta praises Gyokeres' qualities, describing him as an 'incredible striker'. He emphasizes the importance of feeding his quality, understanding him better, and him understanding the team and league better. Arteta believes they are on the right trajectory to achieve this.
When asked about Gyokeres' confidence, Arteta acknowledges that it's a question for the player himself. He highlights the high expectations and demands that Gyokeres places on himself, noting that defenders often find it a nightmare to face him during training. Arteta uses this as a way to assess a player's quality and defensive challenges.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will aim to extend their league lead when they host Chelsea on Sunday. With a comprehensive victory over Tottenham, they are five points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Arteta remains focused on the task at hand, understanding that past statistics and achievements are irrelevant to the current preparation. He aims to keep improving and striving for excellence, knowing that finishing like this means they only want to be first.
