Mikel Arteta response to Viktor Gyokeres goal drought speaks volumes as Arsenal talks revealed

Mikel Arteta has revealed what he told Viktor Gyokeres in a meeting with his drought in front of goal at risk of stretching to seven Arsenal games if he does not score against Fulham this weekend. The Sweden international has scored three goals since joining from Sporting CP in the summer transfer window.

Gyokeres grabbed a brace in his second competitive appearance for the Gunners against Leeds United with his last strike coming in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, September 13. Having also failed to find the back of the net for Sweden over the international break, Gyokeres has now failed to convert from his last 20 shots.

Despite concerns over his output, Arteta has delivered a clear response when asked if he needs to lift his confidence levels as a result of not scoring in over one month.

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"He brings so much to the team and watching the games back, I'm very pleased with what he's given to the team," Arteta admitted in a press conference on Friday morning.

"I told him before the press meeting, I said, the nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn't score for six or eight games, he can handle that. If not, you have to go somewhere else because the pressure is gone, the expectation is going to be there.

"So, if you put it on a nine shirt on for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, OK, six games, if I don't score. I'm a different player? I start to act in a different way? I want much more of the same of what he's doing. Once we have those opportunities, I'm sure it's going to happen."

Having never really played at an elite level during the decade he has spent in senior football, the signing was criticised, but Arteta has actually revealed that as one of the reasons Arsenal signed him.

"Going back in his history as well with Viktor, it's a very different one," he said when asked about Gyokeres' mentality. "The beginning, when he wasn't even playing much, and then how he evolved his career. Then in the last year, it was very difficult to find a gap of that because I think he scored in every single match almost.

"But just preparing something. The context is going to change. It's part of football. You see the history of the number 9s. You're going to have moments like that. Hopefully, it's through playing.

"Not that you don't even have the option to play, and you are injured. So his robustness is something really good. I'm really happy with him. Full confidence and when you look at him every single day, how much he wants it. That's exactly what you expect."

With Kai Havertz unavailable through injury, Gyokeres has to keep playing for a recognised centre-forward to be in the team. Though he has struggled for goals, the 28-year-old is still bringing so much to Arsenal in the eyes of his manager.

"Viktor has so many things that probably are not noticeable," he said. "But as well, he creates environment and space and solutions to a lot of the players around him. And with the talent that we have in the team, I'm sure that everybody, him included, will benefit from that."