Viktor Gyokeres finally ended his goal drought with two strikes as Arsenal swept aside Atletico Madrid 4-0, bringing visible relief to both the player and his manager, Mikel Arteta.
The £64m forward had started brightly with three goals in his opening four appearances but endured seven matches without scoring, a spell that left him visibly frustrated. Despite that, his teammates and coach continued to value his contributions beyond goals.
Arteta, who embraced Gyokeres after the recent 2-0 victory over West Ham, praised the striker’s work ethic and perseverance. “He deserved it because of what he’s been offering the team,” said the Arsenal manager. “He helps in so many ways apart from goals. It was about keeping faith and enjoying his football again.”
The Swedish international has been required to play more than initially intended due to Kai Havertz’s knee injury, completing full matches in seven of Arsenal’s 12 fixtures so far. With his brace against Atletico, Gyokeres now has five goals from 12 appearances this season.
Team unity and praise from Arteta
After scoring twice, Gyokeres was encouraged by his teammates to celebrate alone in front of the supporters, a gesture that underlined the unity within the Arsenal squad.
Arteta said the moment reflected how much the group values the forward’s influence. “He makes us a stronger team,” the Spaniard noted. “We’ve become harder to predict. His strength, pressing, and ability to hold the ball are outstanding.”
The coach described the goals as “the icing on the cake” and expressed hope that the 27-year-old would now embark on a consistent scoring run. “He got two very different goals today,” Arteta added. “Hopefully this gives him the momentum he needs.”
Gyokeres focused on consistency
The former Sporting striker, who netted 97 times in 102 matches during his two seasons in Portugal, admitted he was pleased to be back among the goals.
“I am very happy, both goals were great,” Gyokeres told UEFA. “I always try to give my best, to help in different ways, and I knew the goals would come eventually. We just need to keep taking it one game at a time. It’s a long journey.”
Arsenal’s strong start continues
The emphatic win extended Arsenal’s perfect record in the Champions League group stage, with three victories and no goals conceded.
Arteta’s side have also enjoyed a superb domestic campaign, winning 10 of their 12 matches in all competitions and conceding only three goals — the fewest at this stage of any season in the club’s 138-year history.
Arsenal remain three points clear at the top of the Premier League and will look to maintain their momentum when they face Crystal Palace on Sunday.