Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is delighted Viktor Gyokeres ended his seven-game goal drought by netting a brace in the 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Afrosport reports.
The 27-year-old had been without a goal since a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest after the September international break, with his worth called into question after his €63.5 million summer move from Sporting Lisbon.
Gyokeres however put all those worries behind as he scored the third and fourth goals against Atleti, which Arteta says he rightly deserved.
“I think he 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, was no debate about that,” the Spaniard said.
“It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state, that he can enjoy and play freely. I think he’s certainly done that.
“Again, he was rewarded with two goals, and as you said, big smile on his face. Look at his teammates as well in the pictures and in the video. They’re also happy for him because he fully deserves that.”
Arteta added: “He makes us a much better team, I think we become much more unpredictable.
“He’s so physical, he opens the spaces for everybody, the way he presses the ball, holds the ball. It’s just phenomenal. And then yeah, the icing on the cake. And the biggest thing that we’re going to debate about him is goals.
“He certainly scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals.”
About last night 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/LxTderNGxY
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 22, 2025
Gyokeres has now scored a total of five goals in 12 competitive games for Arsenal and will hope to be on the scoresheet when they take on London rivals Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday.
