Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hopes the goals will start flowing for Viktor Gyokeres after he ended his drought.
Gyokeres scored twice against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night as Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners to maintain their perfect start to this season’s Champions League.
The Swede had previously gone nine games for club and country without scoring, his worst run since the 2021-21 season when he was playing for Coventry.
“He’s scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals,” said Arteta.
“I think he deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team, and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks, there was no debate about that.
“It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. Again, it was one of those two goals, and as you said, a big smile on his face.
“I look at his teammates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserved it.
“He makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, opens space for everybody.
“The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, that’s phenomenal. And then there is the icing on the cake, and the biggest thing that we’re going to debate about him is goals.”
He makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, opens space for everybody
Gyokeres’ goals came after Arsenal were leading 2-0 thanks to a header from Gabriel and a slick finish courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli.
The Swede was delighted to find the net, but insisted that he never doubted the goals would come.
“Both my goals were great,” Gyokeres said. “I try to do my best all the time and work hard, contribute with different stuff and the goals would have come sooner or later.”
“We want to win trophies, that’s our desire and that’s the most important thing and of course I want to contribute and score goals.
“To score four and keep a clean sheet again is very good. We always keep going. We do the things right when we defend and when we get the chances we are extremely strong in taking those.”
