Mikel Arteta Urges Critics to ‘Leave Him Alone’ as Viktor Gyökeres’ Goal Drought Continues

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged critics to “leave him alone” amid scrutiny surrounding Viktor Gyökeres’ goalscoring form, while acknowledging that the £64 million striker must begin finding the net more regularly.

Gyökeres has scored in just four of his 17 appearances for Arsenal this season and was substituted at the hour mark for the returning Gabriel Jesus during the Gunners’ 3–0 Champions League victory over Club Brugge in midweek.

The Sweden international arrived at the Emirates on the back of an extraordinary spell at Sporting Lisbon, where he netted 97 goals in 102 appearances. However, his return of six goals in an Arsenal shirt — coupled with a run of four matches without scoring since his return from a hamstring injury — has placed his form under increased scrutiny ahead of Saturday night’s Premier League clash with Wolves.

“There was a lot of excitement because we were bringing in a proven scorer who probably had the best statistics in Europe,” Arteta said.

“He’s a player who comes into a different league — the most demanding league in the world — and then people ask what happens if he doesn’t score for five or six games.

“That was my question to him: ‘How are you going to react if you don’t score in five or six games? Can you cope with that? And then what happens over the next 100 games?’

“That’s what we have to assess. The sample size is very small, so leave him alone, let him do what he does best, support him, and I’m sure things will go in the right direction.”

Gyökeres last scored for Arsenal in their 2–0 away win over Burnley before being sidelined for almost a month with a hamstring problem.

Arteta insisted the club must continue to create the right conditions for the striker to thrive.

“We have to put Viktor in the best possible position to explode and fulfil his potential,” he added.

“Before the injury, he was in a really good place. At the beginning, it took him a bit of time because it’s a different league with different demands.

“He didn’t have a pre-season, and now he’s starting to build some momentum. But what will unlock him is goals.

“He needs that for his confidence, and we will judge his performances on that as well — that’s normal. He wants it badly too.”

Arsenal host Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night as they look to extend their lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League to five points. City are in action the following day away to Crystal Palace.