Mikel Arteta mentioned Viktor Gyokeres has raised his recreation to the “highest stage” after the striker’s two objectives helped Arsenal beat Sunderland 3-0.
The Swedish strike got here off the bench to internet twice within the second half to seal a hard-earned victory to go 9 factors clear on the summit after Martin Zubimendi’s stunner broke the impasse earlier than the break.
It was the primary time Gyokeres had netted in successive Premier League video games for the Gunners since his transfer in the summertime after scoring towards Leeds final week as he took his tally to eight league objectives in what has not precisely been a glowing debut season in North London.
However after lastly hitting some kind, Arteta believes the £64million man to exhibiting the “confidence” wanted to be a hit at Arsenal.
The Gunners boss mentioned: “Confidence is the magic phrase. If you really feel assured, once you really feel vital, once you really feel at your greatest, that’s when you’ll be able to actually take your recreation to the very best stage.
“We’re actually behind him in each second to attempt to assist him, to attempt to assist him. And he’s delivering, and he’s in a very good second now.
“Clearly, once you put that shirt on, there’s lot of accountability and large expectation, and you might want to stay with that.
“In your journey, you’re going to have moments the place it goes rather well, after which others the place it’s going to be powerful.
“With Viktor, it’s very obscure his feelings as a result of he appears straight at you. However he doesn’t appear too affected by the actual highs or the lows. He’s very demanding of himself, he’s always attempting to enhance.
“I really like his character, the way in which he approaches each single day and the truth that he’s so targeted on the current, what he has to do, and he has a real will to assist the group in no matter function he has.”
Arsenal are actually in a commanding place to say their first title since 2004 after extending their result in 9 factors with 13 video games left to play.
Challengers Manchester Metropolis have a tough journey to Liverpool on Sunday of their quest to trim the Gunners’ lead again to 6 factors.
Requested what this win means of their quest for the title, Arteta replied: “Nothing. We nonetheless should win so many video games to attain what we would like.
“I’m going to have a lovely dinner tonight. Tomorrow I begin to put together for Brentford (on Thursday), as a result of it’s going to be a very powerful one.
“And within the meantime, I can be watching a giant, huge recreation (Liverpool vs Metropolis).”
