Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a strong defence of his striker Viktor Gyokeres, predicting the summer signing will elevate his game significantly in the coming months.
Arteta's Public Vote of Confidence
The Gunners' boss moved to shield his £64million forward from recent criticism, insisting the Sweden international's best is yet to come. Gyokeres has found the net just six times in 18 appearances across all competitions since his high-profile move.
His performance in last weekend's 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers drew particular scrutiny, with the 27-year-old struggling to influence the game after recently returning from a muscle injury.
The Challenges of Adaptation
Ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Everton, Arteta outlined the mitigating factors behind Gyokeres's start to life in North London. The Spaniard pointed to the striker's lack of a proper pre-season and subsequent physical issues as key hurdles.
"Everybody was so excited to bring him into the club," Arteta stated. "We did it. We brought a player with an incredible scoring record who had to adapt to the league. He had no pre-season."
"The first few weeks were difficult because physically he wasn't in his best state and he's a player that needs that, like any other player in this league, almost to perform at that level."
Room for Improvement on Both Sides
Arteta revealed that Gyokeres had begun to find his rhythm before the injury setback halted his progress. Now back in the side, the manager is focusing on fine-tuning the relationship between the striker and his teammates.
"I saw a lot of positive things in the last two games that he's done," Arteta observed. "I know we need to continue to tweak and understand him a little bit better in certain situations, and he needs to do the same. But that's about time. We have full support for him."
When directly asked if supporters will witness an improved Gyokeres in the second half of the campaign, the Arsenal manager was unequivocal: "I think so, yes." This public backing signals Arteta's faith in his marquee attacking signing to justify his substantial fee as the season reaches its crucial phase.
