Arteta Backs Gyökeres to Shine, Cites Physical Struggles and Pressure
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains steadfast in his belief that forward Viktor Gyökeres will elevate his performance in the second half of the season, despite a relatively quiet start to his career with the Gunners. The club invested up to €73 million to secure the Swedish international from Sporting CP last summer, anticipating the prolific goalscorer – who previously notched 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese side – would immediately bolster their attack.
Why did Arsenal sign Viktor Gyökeres? Arsenal sought to bolster their attacking options with a proven goalscorer. Gyökeres had an exceptional record with Sporting CP, scoring 97 goals in 102 games, making him an attractive target to improve their Premier League and Champions League ambitions. The club invested up to €73 million to secure his services.
Gyökeres’s transition to the Emirates Stadium hasn’t been seamless.While his six goals in 19 games represent a contribution, the timing of those goals reveals a pattern: all four of his Premier League strikes came against teams currently in the bottom five of the league standings. This uneven distribution has prompted scrutiny, but Arteta attributes the slower-than-expected adaptation to a combination of physical conditioning and the intense spotlight that comes with playing for a club with Arsenal’s ambitions.
Who is responsible for Gyökeres’s initial struggles? Arteta points to a combination of factors. Gyökeres arrived without a preseason due to a delayed transfer,leaving him physically unprepared for the demands of the Premier League. Additionally, the high expectations and intense scrutiny that come with playing for a top club like Arsenal have presented a mental challenge.
“Well,I think the level of attention on him has not changed since he signed until today,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. “It’s normal. You know, everyone was very excited to bring him to the club.”
The Arsenal manager explained that Gyökeres arrived without a preseason, hampered by a prior “training strike” related to finalizing his transfer.”He had no preseason. The first weeks were arduous because physically he was not at his best, and he is a player who needs that, like any other player in this league, almost to perform at that level,” Arteta stated. He acknowledged a subsequent period of advancement before a setback due to injury.
What specific challenges did Gyökeres face upon arrival? Gyökeres lacked a preseason due to a transfer-related “training strike,” leaving him physically unprepared.He then experienced a period of improvement followed by an injury setback. The intense media attention and expectations associated with joining Arsenal also contributed to his initial difficulties.
However, Arteta is encouraged by Gyökeres’s recent performances. “And now he’s back. I saw a lot of positive things in the last two games he’s played. I know we have to keep perfecting him and understanding him a little better in certain situations, and he needs to do the same. But it’s about time. We fully support him.”
Beyond the physical challenges, Arteta believes Gyökeres is adjusting to the heightened expectations that accompany a move to a top-tier club. The 27-year-old didn’t just become Arsenal’s new star striker; he inherited the obligation of replicating his impressive scoring record while contributing to a team vying for both Premier league and Champions league titles.
“You have to live it. You can imagine the global impact that you will have to face when you arrive at a big club, and the expectations are the same,” Arteta warned. “But then you have to live it. And living it is always a little different than what you imagine. But he is doing it with great enthusiasm. I think his energy level, his commitment, is absolutely excellent. And we are here to help
