Mikel Arteta waxes lyrical over 'incredible' Arsenal star for unsung role in Olympiacos win

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to Viktor Gyokeres for his "incredible" display in attack against Olympiacos. While the Swedish striker did not get himself on the scoresheet, he ran himself into the ground and was a goal threat throughout the clash against the Greek champions.

While Arteta is well aware the former Sporting CP frontman could have scored a hatful, he was full of praise for Gyokeres' application, telling Arsenal's website: “He had an incredible performance. As you said, apart from the goal, I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker.

"The way he's linking with his teammates, the way he's opening spaces, the way he's constantly threatening the back line. He had three or four big situations where he could have scored a goal, so it will come.”

Gyokeres lashed one big chance over the bar in the first half but he was involved in Gabriel Martinelli's opener after his strike was initially saved before trickling against the post.

The £63.5million summer signing has not scored since the 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest on September 13 but Arteta feels the 27-year-old is improving with every game that goes by.

He said during his press conference : "What I sense is that he's doing better and better things every game, and today he was denied a few times on one of the blocks, and then he hit the post, but I think overall his performance was exceptional.

"Again, his work was really good, and yeah, we want him to be scoring goals, but if he doesn't do that, at least to do everything as he's doing for the team, because he's helping the team a lot."

Captain Martin Odegaard, who earned the man of the match award last night, has already made it clear he loves playing with Gyokeres due to his movement.

The Norwegian said of his team-mate and fellow Scandinavian: “That is what I want to do, especially with those forward players, especially with Viktor, who is so aggressive and always a threat. That is my job, to create things for them. I could have had a few more assists, but we got the win and I enjoyed it.”

Arsenal now face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday in their final match before the international break. Victory over Nuno Espirito Santo's rejuvenated Hammers would put the Gunners top as Liverpool do not play until Saturday evening, when they travel to Chelsea.

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