Viktor Gyokeres Urged To Build On Improved Arsenal Displays, Says Arteta

Arsenal head to Nottingham Forest with Mikel Arteta backing Viktor Gyokeres to influence the Premier League title race, after a strong EFL Cup display at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal sit six points clear at the top and are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions since a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in December.

Gyokeres ended a difficult personal run during Arsenal's EFL Cup win over Chelsea on Wednesday, scoring once and providing an assist. That performance stopped a sequence of four games without a goal in any competition for the Sweden forward, who joined from Sporting CP for a reported 63.5m (73.5m).

Across the season, Gyokeres has delivered eight goals in 25 appearances in all competitions, despite his mixed form. Within Arteta's squad, only Gabriel

Martinelli has scored more, with nine. Arsenal view Gyokeres as central to securing a first Premier League crown since 2003-04, especially with the club currently leading the table.

Arteta underlined the standards expected of Gyokeres and other strikers at this level, stressing that the Chelsea display should be a reference point. Arsenal's head coach believes the forward's previous seasons have already created a benchmark that Gyokeres is now required to match during this campaign and future years.

"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. "

Underlying numbers show Gyokeres is close to his expected output but still has room to improve. His eight goals come from an expected goals figure of 9.73, which indicates slight underperformance. Gyokeres has also missed 13 big chances in Premier League action in 2025-26, with only Ollie Watkins, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Erling Haaland failing with more.

Gyokeres has already hurt Forest once this season. The forward scored in the reverse league fixture in September, a 3-0 home win for Arsenal. That goal meant Gyokeres became only the third Arsenal player to score in both of the first two Premier League home games, after Marouane Chamakh in 2010 and Alexandre Lacazette in 2017.

Arsenal have enjoyed a strong run against Forest, especially in defence. Forest have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League meetings with the Gunners, although both non-defeats have arrived at the City Ground since promotion in 2022, a 1-0 win in May 2023 and a 0-0 draw in February 2025. Arsenal have also kept clean sheets in the previous three league clashes against Forest.

Pre-match projections assign Arsenal an 86.2% chance of finishing first in the Premier League this season. Arteta links that outlook to consistent performances and believes the win at Stamford Bridge, combined with progress in all cup competitions, has strengthened belief within the squad that the squad can sustain this form.

"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. "

With Arsenal on an extended unbeaten run and still competing on four fronts, the focus now falls on whether Gyokeres can turn improved underlying data into sharper finishing. If the Sweden forward maintains the standards Arteta described, Arsenal's position at the top and strong record against Nottingham Forest could become even more significant in the weeks ahead.