Opinion: Arteta Urged To Protect Gyokeres After Early Arsenal Criticism

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·20 August 2025

Opinion: Arteta Urged To Protect Gyokeres After Early Arsenal Criticism

Mikel Arteta may have to use his man management skills this week as even though Viktor Gyokeres has only played an hour of Premiership football, some have spent the last couple of days questioning just how good he is after all.

Manchester United fans had fun mocking the 27-year-old for his weight but that is like calling someone ugly after they rejected you. Unfortunately, criticism extended to our own fanbase. Some Gooners will be motivated by getting clicks for YouTube, so want to promote a made-up personality of always being negative.

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For others, they are simply reflecting society. A young man has been celebrated for the last couple of years for how well he has done and some therefore want to see him fall flat on his face. I just thought he would have been given more time than 60 minutes at Old Trafford. Especially when conversations have existed among supporters that he was unlikely to play 90 minutes because there is no way he can be fully fit.

Harsh judgement after United

I myself pointed out that the negative aspect of Andrea Berta taking so long to negotiate with Sporting Lisbon was that it meant our new striker did not get a full pre-season and started the campaign unprepared. Yet he is being judged on not scoring at Manchester United which seems harsh. His case was not helped by the footballing intelligence Kai Havertz showed when he came on.

One forward knew his role, the other looked a bit lost. That is another reason why another midfielder is needed, either to take away some of the creative pressure on Martin Ødegaard or to add competition on our left side. Our manager would have already warned the Swede how reactionary the internet and the mainstream media can be, especially when you represent a club the size of Arsenal.

As a former professional himself, our former captain is qualified to know what it is like moving abroad and settling into a new culture. Yet even the Spaniard would have been surprised by how judgemental some have been.

Various outlets could not wait to post data detailing how few touches our new signing had on Sunday and how little were in the penalty area. The weekend was the first time since playing for Coventry that the player did not manage a single shot. The fact that never happened in Portugal but happens the moment he is back in England adds to the narrative that his record in the Primeira Liga should be questioned because of the standard of the league.

Viktor Gyokeres (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Gyokeres faces his biggest challenge

These are whispers the man himself cannot escape from which is why, as he reaches the peak years of his career, this is mentally his biggest challenge. Living in the Portuguese capital with the pressure of having to win every week and responding with 97 goals in 102 games is proof a mindset exists where he can handle expectation.

The majority of those goals proved he is a natural goalscorer. The only thing we do not know is his level of confidence. Does he believe that he can score over 20 league goals a season at the Emirates? Or in the back of his mind does he remind himself that from the age of 19-23, Brighton never trusted him to play in the Premiership? Not helping anyone’s self-belief, his ex-teammate Glenn Murray has stated he did not observe a strike partner destined for the higher level at the Amex.

It feels crazy to say an individual without even 90 minutes of competitive football as a Gunner under his belt would be under scrutiny to score against Leeds. After all, the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp began life in North London with goal droughts domestically. No one is saying Gyokeres will reach their level because they are legends, yet it shows that even the very best need some time and empathy from the public.

Those two had the benefit of playing in an era where social media was not dominant. Failure to get on the scoresheet on Saturday dominates the headlines for another week, not the preparation our squad want for a trip to Anfield. After that it is the international break. If he goes away with Sweden still without a goal for his new employer, that becomes another long week.

Many who have worked with Mikel Arteta paint our boss as not the type to put his arm round your shoulder and reassure you. It might be in his best interest to do so. Unfortunately, many successful people in the public eye have to listen to nonsense being said about them. What separates the good from the great is the great respond with something special.

Your thoughts appreciated in the comments.

Dan Smith

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