Mikel Arteta has backed Viktor Gyokeres to build on his improved showing in Arsenal's EFL Cup win over Chelsea ahead of the Gunners' trip to Nottingham Forest. 

Gyokeres scored and registered an assist at Stamford Bridge in Wednesday's match, ending a run of four games without a goal across all competitions. 

However, the Sweden international, who was signed from Sporting CP for a reported £63.5m (€73.5m) transfer fee, has endured an inconsistent start to life at Arsenal.

But he has managed to score eight goals in 25 games across all competitions this season, a total only bettered by Gabriel Martinelli (nine) in Mikel Arteta's ranks. 

Gyokeres' strikes have come from an expected goals (xG) total of 9.73, a slight underperformance, while he has also missed 13 big chances, with only Ollie Watkins (15), Jean-Philippe Mateta (22) and Erling Haaland (29) missing more among Premier League players in 2025-26.

He scored in the reverse fixture against Forest last September, a 3-0 win for the Gunners, becoming just the third Arsenal player to score in both of his first two Premier League home games, after Marouane Chamakh (September 2010) and Alexandre Lacazette (December 2017).

And with Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arteta believes Gyokeres will be a key figure in sealing a first top-flight crown since 2003-04. 

"He is a very demanding person. He knows the level we want, and he wants to fulfil the level we expect of him," Arteta said.

"He has been very consistent. He had a great game against Chelsea and scored to help us win the game.

"For the rest of his career, what he's done in the last few years, he has set the standard, and it's a standard we expect him to maintain.

"It's part of the expectations not only for Viktor but every number nine in the league. We expect them to be really good and consistent. That's what he has to try to do."

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions since a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December, and will fancy their chances of extending that run against Forest.

Forest, on the other hand, have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal, though both exceptions have come at the City Ground since their return to the division in 2022 (1-0 in May 2023, 0-0 in February 2025).

The Gunners have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Premier League games against Forest, their longest run of league shutouts against the Tricky Trees.

Ahead of the weekend's action, Arsenal are assigned an 86.2% chance of finishing top of the pile, and Arteta believes that their consistency will be key moving forward.

"We are building very good momentum. And the belief comes from performances and the level of consistency we have shown already this season," Arteta added.

"What we did at Stamford Bridge should help us to be very convinced that we have the ability.

"But the reality is that you have to show it in every game. We are very happy that we are still alive in all four competitions."