“I haven’t shown everything yet”

Since the day his signing was completed, Viktor Gyökeres was a focus of criticism within a Arsenal that was working like a clock. Many of them, surely, had their justification. However, he has managed to put on the mask again at the start of 2026 in the worst moment for the Gunners throughout the entire season.

Despite having scored 97 goals in 102 games with the Sporting CP that it was better for him to be ‘pichichi’ of the First League twice (23-24 and 24-25) and be recognized as the world’s top scorer in 2025, his signing was examined with a magnifying glass… and it didn’t take long for the alarms to go off in a Emirates aware that they needed a top-level ‘9’ to finish making the definitive leap both in Premier as in Champions.

“Let Viktor at peace. Let him do what he knows best, support him and I’m sure things will work out. The sample is very small. “We have to put it in the best conditions so that it explodes,” he said. Arteta about a Viktor Gyökeres which felt like a foreign element to this Arsenal. “It took him a while to adapt to a League with different demands. But what will unlock him are the goals.”

It took him a while to adapt to a League with different demands. But what will unlock him are the goals

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach

That was the Swede’s biggest mantra during his first months as a Gunner. Only seven goals in his own account and more than 1,000 minutes without scoring in Premier —not counting penalties— since September 13. Now, the most worrying thing of all is that he was not even managing to find finishing situations… when the Arsenal It is the third team that generates the most (410) in the competition.

Too poor numbers for a forward who, in addition, shows serious limitations when it comes to providing solutions in the collective game. Neither as a support point to oxygenate… nor to stretch, showing off that self-sufficiency that he did boast about in Portugal. “We need to continue adjusting and understand him a little better in certain situations. He needs to do the same,” he explained. Arteta.

Hampered by a muscle injury that kept him out for nearly a month, Mikel He chose to give him a ‘banquilla’, taking advantage of the fact that he had available again Havertz y Gabriel Jesus. MerinoHe even won the game. “The last month has been very hard. The uncertainty for so long was mentally demanding. But I guess it also makes you stronger,” he acknowledged. Rooted in an interview with the channel YouTube ‘WTV’.

The last month has been very hard. The uncertainty for so long was mentally demanding. But I guess it also makes you stronger

Viktor Gyökeres, player of Arsenal

He was beginning to carry the label of ‘disappointment signing’ on his men. However, as already ‘predicted’ Artetais turning his situation around based on goals. He has already had eight – one more than in 2025 – in 14 games (one every 106′ and ) since the turn of the year. No footballer in the Premier is registering these figures and, at European level, it only has Kane (13), Sorloth (10), Mbappé (9) y Turn around (9).

His performance before Tottenhamdoublet included, could have been consecrated for a Viktor Gyökeres which is showing the second best conversion ratio of the Premier among players with more than 40 shots. “This was probably his best game with him. Arsenal. Overall it was brilliant. His overall game was incredible,” he claimed. Arteta.

It is true that he barely completed 67% of the passes he attempted (18/27) and it was difficult for him to prevail in the duels (5/11) against darling, Van de Ven and company. “I can do even better and I haven’t shown everything yet.” But he billed when he had to and, at the end of the day, that is the most important thing. “It was a great day. Of course. I love scoring goals. The first one was nice. I just looked for a good position to finish. The second one was also nice and it was nice to finish like that.”

Surely, Rooted never become the striker who raises the roof of this Arsenal…but it is beginning to raise the ground. In fact, he is only three goals away from becoming the striker with the best numbers in a single season under the orders of Mikel Arteta And all this having signed, until now, a fairly discreet course.

“I have enjoyed it since I arrived. It has been challenging. But I have improved a lot and I try to learn as much as possible. Of course it has been a challenge. It was the same when I went to Portugal. “It wasn’t perfect from the beginning,” acknowledged a Viktor Gyökeres who is putting on his mask again.