Mikel Arteta has said he has been delighted with Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal despite the forward’s concerning goalless run.
The Swedish striker has netted three times in 10 appearances for the North Londoners, but has not scored in his last six appearances. Gyokeres also failed to find the net for Sweden during the international break, extending his goal drought to eight games.
It’s been a modest start for the £63.5m signing, who scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting Lisbon over the last two season.
Despite that, Arteta has been pleased with the impact of the 27-year-old’s all-round game. He said he warned Gyokeres he would face a difficult adaptation to England but is confident the forward will begin to fire in the coming weeks.
“He brings so much to the team.” Arteta said ahead of facing Fulham this weekend.
“Watching the games back, I’m very pleased with what he is bringing to the team.
“I told him, in our first meeting ‘the nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn’t score for six or eight games he can handle that. If not, you have to go somewhere else.'”
“The pressure is going to be there, the expectation is going to be there, if you put the number nine shirt on for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, six games I don’t score am I different player? Do I act in a different way?
“I want more of the same of what he is doing. When we have the opportunities put it (in the net), I’m sure it is going to happen.”
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