Arsenal once again dropped points in the Premier League after failing to break down Newcastle United, and much of the post-match attention turned to Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish striker is going through a rough patch in front of goal, and despite being a key attacking option for Mikel Arteta, he drew another blank.

What Did Arteta Say About Gyökeres’ Role?

The Spanish coach did not hide his feelings about his striker’s current form:

“It’s a shame he didn’t score, because in my opinion he deserved it for everything he did during the game.”

Arteta highlighted that Gyökeres was constantly involved in dangerous situations, even after a penalty awarded in his favor was overturned by VAR.

Why Does He Still Trust the Striker?

Despite the drought, Arteta’s faith in Gyökeres remains intact. Since arriving from Sporting CP, the Swede has scored just three goals in eight matches, but he has been forced into a starting role following Kai Havertz’s injury.

The Arsenal boss praised his striker’s resilience:

“I loved how he reacted, how he handled the situation emotionally and how he kept creating chances.”

Arteta emphasized Gyökeres’ work rate, commitment, and ability to hold his ground in physical battles, underlining why he continues to back him as a starter.

What Does Arteta Expect From His Development?

The coach insisted that Gyökeres’ ceiling is far from reached:

“He’s a very confident guy, with an incredible work ethic. Every day he pushes himself to the maximum, and that’s a pleasure for the team.”

For Arteta, goals will eventually follow, but Gyökeres’ sacrifice, link-up play, and constant presence in the box already make him an essential figure in the Gunners’ system.

The question now is whether the Swedish forward can turn this persistence into goals and silence the growing scrutiny around his performances.