Unfair Viktor Gyokeres comments must stop despite Arsenal goal drought as Arteta feelings clear

Viktor Gyokeres, wasteful? He was excellent, how could you call him wasteful?

Well, because he was. These were some of the questions that came my way following the release of our player ratings piece after Arsenal’s clash with Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League.

For the record, it was worth including in the analysis that the Swedish striker was indeed very good. Mikel Arteta, understandably, went even further, praising his overall performance despite it being pointed out that there had been a near-month-long drought without a goal.

“What I sense is that he’s doing better and better things every game,” he said. “Today he was denied a few times, one of the blocks, and then he hit the post, but I think overall his performance was exceptional.

“Again, his work rate was really good, and yes, we want him to be scoring goals, but if he doesn’t do that, at least to do everything as he’s doing for the team, because he’s helping the team a lot.”

He was pivotal in the goal that opened the scoring in the match, latching onto a through ball from Martin Odegaard before bullying his way into the box, getting the ball out from under his feet before his shot was parried by the keeper onto the post. Here Gabriel Martinelli was waiting to tap-in.

It was worth noting if you watch the goal back that Martinelli could have tapped the ball in before it hit the post but he was evidently waiting to see if the ball would go in on it’s own accord. When it didn’t, he turned what Gyokeres hoped would be a goal into an assist, of sorts.

But it is noticeable how much the team want the Swede to succeed and end this mini period without a goal. His last came against Nottingham Forest midway through September. The irony is that since his last goals, his performances have definitely improved.

His movement, runs, and touch has become more pointed and refined. He is benefitting from getting into much stronger positions on the field. It means his colleagues are finding him and shots are materialising.

However, against both Newcastle and now Olympiacos he has been unable to take them. Asked whether all it will take is a goal to open the floodgates for Gyokeres, Arteta was shorter in his response.

“I don’t know, but hopefully yes,” he said. “And hopefully it will be on Saturday.”

Arsenal take on a leaky West Ham United side again at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon with Gyokeres in line to start again. The chances he’s had in the past two games would be opportunities he would certainly be confident of taking in the form he has produced with Sporting CP.

But this is a new environment that he must adapt to. The injury to Kai Havertz has perhaps thrown him into the deep end with more exposure than had initially been planned but it has allowed him to succeed in a trial by fire.

Frankly, criticism at this stage is both unhelpful and premature. And while pointing out he was wasteful with his chances does not cross that line and is more observational, discussions across whether there is a deeper conversation to have about his place in the side is, bluntly, ridiculous.

The season is just getting underway and Arsenal have had plenty of tough games already. The month of October sees the Gunners not leave the capital in any of their remaining five matches which Olympiacos was the first in this run.

A great chance for Gyokeres therefore to settle even more so and hopefully find the ball nestling in the back of the net.