Mikel Arteta has backed Viktor Gyokeres to build on his improved showing in Arsenal's EFL Cup win over Chelsea ahead of the Gunners' trip to Nottingham Forest.
Gyokeres scored and registered an assist at Stamford Bridge in Wednesday's match, ending a run of four games without a goal across all competitions.
However, the Sweden international, who was signed from Sporting CP for a reported £63.5m (€73.5m) transfer fee, has endured an inconsistent start to life at Arsenal.
But he has managed to score eight goals in 25 games across all competitions this season, a total only bettered by Gabriel Martinelli (nine) in Mikel Arteta's ranks.
Gyokeres' strikes have come from an expected goals (xG) total of 9.73, a slight underperformance, while he has also missed 13 big chances, with only Ollie Watkins (15), Jean-Philippe Mateta (22) and Erling Haaland (29) missing more among Premier League players in 2025-26.
He scored in the reverse fixture against Forest last September, a 3-0 win for the Gunners, becoming just the third Arsenal player to score in both of his first two Premier League home games, after Marouane Chamakh (September 2010) and Alexandre Lacazette (December 2017).
And with Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arteta believes Gyokeres will be a key figure in sealing a first top-flight crown since 2003-04.
"He is a very demanding person. He knows the level we want, and he wants to fulfil the level we expect of him," Arteta said.
"He has been very consistent. He had a great game against Chelsea and scored to help us win the game.
"For the rest of his career, what he's done in the last few years, he has set the standard, and it's a standard we expect him to maintain.
"It's part of the expectations not only for Viktor but every number nine in the league. We expect them to be really good and consistent. That's what he has to try to do."
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions since a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December, and will fancy their chances of extending that run against Forest.
Forest, on the other hand, have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal, though both exceptions have come at the City Ground since their return to the division in 2022 (1-0 in May 2023, 0-0 in February 2025).
The Gunners have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Premier League games against Forest, their longest run of league shutouts against the Tricky Trees.
Ahead of the weekend's action, Arsenal are assigned an 86.2% chance of finishing top of the pile, and Arteta believes that their consistency will be key moving forward.
"We are building very good momentum. And the belief comes from performances and the level of consistency we have shown already this season," Arteta added.
"What we did at Stamford Bridge should help us to be very convinced that we have the ability.
"But the reality is that you have to show it in every game. We are very happy that we are still alive in all four competitions."
Sabkmorsu
0
good luck gunners..my prayers tonight is to see Skelly doing wht he is supposed to do...other than continuous mistakes he has been doing.....wake up young man pass ball to saka...avoid attacking opponents fm behind .you will good
Sabkmorsu
0
As long as Zubmend saka. ordgard play slow game..without studying his quick movements it will hard fr him ..our defenders likes to play 90% backapassess dt hinders the attackers
AFerHKJc1725
0
His movement is very good but they don’t pass him the ball
Vaecimprst
0
Don’t get carried away, he needs to deliver on a more consistent level before you should be praising him. His goal was a tap in, and the assist was a basic lay off.
You sound very jealous, why?
kameimnosy
0
problem is Saka
suzbcelms
0
did you tell the wingers and midfielder to feed Gyekers with passes
Talisman26
0
the problem is Saka and Odegaard, madueke is good but he lack accuracy and ball timing,he plays too much when it comes to scoring, always balloon the ball in the sky, preferred line up against Forest , rest Zubi, bench Saka and Odegaard,
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you are not serious, do you think forest is a easy play to go for you to bench saka and odegaard, I could prefer to bench gyokeres instead
arsenal5364
0
Way tooooo much praise for FLOPP[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
and how does that bother's you 🤔
Nuecekluyz
0
Way tooooo much praise for FLOPP[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
cry more dude
resabekpst
1
definitely so
Cheers mate, for when I’ve made these comments previously, I’ve been told that i have no knowledge about football and it’s greedy Saka’s fault. It’s hard to believe they are from Arsenal fans.
homdilpstz
0
At first we thought he was a flop but now his enemy has been exposed
Very true
wusbmnrsz
2
At first we thought he was a flop but now his enemy has been exposed
Agreed....his enemy is SAKA [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
wusbmnrsz
2
Way tooooo much praise for FLOPP[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Lidbeklruy
1
He has got to make more runs into positions in order to get a shot off. He stands behind defenders, top strikers always get in front of them. It’s not rocket science.
definitely so
homdilpstz
0
At first we thought he was a flop but now his enemy has been exposed
his enemy was exposed in Chelsea game
resabekpst
1
they should provide him with clear passes if he is to score , Gyokeres is a top man so it's the players around him who have to create opportunities for him to score , its not his solo effort to pick up balls , run to the poles and score but the entire team has to find a way of scoring goals rather blaming the Swedish international
He has got to make more runs into positions in order to get a shot off. He stands behind defenders, top strikers always get in front of them. It’s not rocket science.
resabekpst
1
the problem is Saka and Odegaard, madueke is good but he lack accuracy and ball timing,he plays too much when it comes to scoring, always balloon the ball in the sky, preferred line up against Forest , rest Zubi, bench Saka and Odegaard,
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Not a chance, we need 3 points.
resabekpst
1
At first we thought he was a flop but now his enemy has been exposed
Don’t get carried away, he needs to deliver on a more consistent level before you should be praising him. His goal was a tap in, and the assist was a basic lay off.
sumdeimnru
1
keep up the good work Gunners
homdilpstz
1
At first we thought he was a flop but now his enemy has been exposed
layackmpu
2
the problem is Saka and Odegaard, madueke is good but he lack accuracy and ball timing,he plays too much when it comes to scoring, always balloon the ball in the sky, preferred line up against Forest , rest Zubi, bench Saka and Odegaard,
resabekpst
1
they should provide him with clear passes if he is to score , Gyokeres is a top man so it's the players around him who have to create opportunities for him to score , its not his solo effort to pick up balls , run to the poles and score but the entire team has to find a way of scoring goals rather blaming the Swedish international
He has got to adjust to our game playing style. Our wide players come across the defenders and jink balls to the back post, or have a shot at goal. He either wants the ball delivered across the 6 yard line. Or played through from midfield, Odegaard never puts the ball through the line for him, he does this for Haaland, and did so for Isaak at Socieded.
resabekpst
1
I'm sure man city can take epl this season because is good consistence victor doesn't score because of same player who are playing with, player like eze can create 6 to 10 chance per game while trossad can create 3 to 5 per game for my view is better to start eze infront of trossad and martinery, football is about strong creating of the best players
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Eze is superior to Trossaud definitely. We still have Martinelli to rotate.
Kepabeks
3
I'm sure man city can take epl this season because is good consistence victor doesn't score because of same player who are playing with, player like eze can create 6 to 10 chance per game while trossad can create 3 to 5 per game for my view is better to start eze infront of trossad and martinery, football is about strong creating of the best players
Lidbeklruy
2
they should provide him with clear passes if he is to score , Gyokeres is a top man so it's the players around him who have to create opportunities for him to score , its not his solo effort to pick up balls , run to the poles and score but the entire team has to find a way of scoring goals rather blaming the Swedish international