Mikel Arteta said Viktor Gyökeres had brought more variation to Arsenal’s attacking play as he paid tribute to the striker whose two goals embellished a 4-0 rout of Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
Gyökeres had entered the game with only three goals for the club he joined from Sporting over the summer for £64m; questions over the quality of his performances. Arteta has never doubted him, believing it was simply a matter of time before his selflessness and persistence translated into goals.
Gyökeres scored Arsenal’s third and fourth as they swatted Atlético aside in a four-goal salvo that began with Gabriel Magalhães’s goal in the 57th minute. Gabriel Martinelli scored the second after an excellent run by Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal maintained their 100% record after three Champions League games, keeping a third clean sheet into the bargain.
“Viktor 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,” Arteta said.
“It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. I look at his teammates as well – they are all so happy for him.
“We all appreciate him because he makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, opens the spaces for everyone. The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, it’s just phenomenal. And then the icing on the cake and the biggest thing that we’re going to debate about him is goals. He’s scored two very different ones today and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals.”
Arteta made only two changes to the lineup that had started Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Fulham, Lewis-Skelly and Martinelli coming in. But he feels that the competition for places is driving Arsenal to new heights. He had impressive options on the bench.
“This is what we need and when you look at the top teams in Europe, that’s what they have and we have to manage that in a really cohesive system,” Arteta said.
“Everybody understands that they are going to have different roles throughout the game or in different games. But at the end the outcome is to earn the right to win games. We are all seeking the same thing.”
