Viktor Gyokeres shows true colours with honest verdict on Arsenal teammate Kai Havertz

Viktor Gyokeres has ignored the pressure that has tagged along for the start of his career with Arsenal. His three goals in the opening four matches have helped Mikel Arteta’s side to set their stall out for yet another Premier League title charge.

There was such an emphasis on position during the summer transfer window, with the clamour incredibly loud for sporting director Andrea Berta to succeed in fulfilling the long-awaited dream of signing one of Europe’s top strikers. It wasn’t just any player, either - the Gunners landed the continent’s highest-scoring for the past two seasons.

However, his debut at Old Trafford left more questions than answers and plenty of early criticism. So much so that when he scored his second goal against Leeds United, he looked straight into the camera to celebrate with a pointed response.

A flick of the hair later, and the Swede had shaken off much of the rhetoric, but his finish from close range in the weekend fixture with Nottingham Forest is the type of finish that fans are expecting to see plenty more of this season. Speaking to reporters after the win, he expressed his delight at now getting to play with the likes of Eberechi Eze, who set up the chance, and Noni Madueke, who also had a great game.

“Yeah, it's amazing,” he said. “They always want to go forward and be a threat. You could see today, they were very dangerous. For me to play with those players, you just have to be in the right positions, and you'll get chances. It’s great.”

Gyokeres, or at least the striker position in general, was for many seen as the final piece of the puzzle for Mikel Arteta side. Or even perhaps the area of the side that had previously been preventing them taking that step from runners-up to Premier League champions.

With that in mind, football.london asked the striker if indeed he had been aware of just how much pressure and hype there was around signing a player in that position. However, the Swede made it clear for him that he just wanted to get to North London as soon as possible and get going.

“I wanted to get here and get going,” he said. “And yeah, of course, it's going to be pressure in a very, very big club. You know that. Just trying to make the best when you're out on the pitch and just don't think too much about that.”

It was not a guarantee that Gyokeres would be given the keys to the striker kingdom by Arteta. Kai Havertz had returned from injury and impressed in pre-season, especially with his goal against Athletic Club.

However, an injury against Manchester United on the opening day now sees the German international out for the foreseeable future for the second time this year. football.london asked Gyokeres whether, in some ways, this was a blessing in disguise to be guaranteed even more minutes to adapt than perhaps he was expecting. But, in comments that will no doubt please manager Arteta, Gyokeres admitted it's not nice to see any of his teammates' pick up an injury.

“Of course, you always want minutes,” he said. “And yeah, you get into it easier when you play more, of course. But, it’s not because someone else is injured that you want to play. You want to perform and show that you deserve to be on the pitch. That’s what I'm trying to do.”

A valuable point to reiterate that this was a position Gyokeres wanted to come and fight for. With links to Benjamin Sesko in the past, there had been some suggestions the presence of Havertz and a lack of a guarantee to be the starting striker is thought to have played a role in him delaying an exit from 2024.

Gyokeres, however, was desperate to make the move happen. Now the Gunners are reaping the rewards of that desire and the Swede is on for a strong start to the campaign.

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