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Mikel Arteta gave Viktor Gyokeres a post-match pep talk despite his Arsenal drought extending to six games. Arsenal beat London rivals West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka found the net for the Gunners to secure victory. Despite playing the full 90, summer signing Gyokeres was unable to fund the net, meaning he has not scored in his past six games.
The Swedish striker’s last strike came in the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest in mid-September. But Mikel Arteta is far from concerned.
The Arsenal boss revealed that he thanked his big-money forward immediately after the game, having been left scratching his head at the lack of a goal. Arteta said: “I just went there and hugged him and said thank you because the work that he does is unbelievable for the team.
“The way he stretches the back four and the spaces he opens. I mean today how he hasn’t scored a goal, I don’t know!”
Arteta is far from the only one to praise Gyokeres despite his growing goal drought. Former Premier League star Alan Shearer also hailed the striker for his contributions during the midweek win against Olympiacos.
"I thought Gyokeres did well with his running in behind – didn't get his goal, but just his running in behind," Shearer told The Rest Is Football podcast.
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"He set up the first one for Martinelli when he went behind, and he was a bit unlucky when he hit the post and it came out for a tap-in, but the way he smashed the centre-half off with his body and great strength.
"I thought he looked a threat. Arsenal are looking really good."
Gyokeres now has a break from his club duties after being called into the Sweden squad for the upcoming international break. Sweden take on Switzerland and Kosovo over the next fortnight as Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side attempt to book their spot at next summer’s World Cup.
Once his international contributions are over, Gyokeres will then turn his attentions back to his club form, with Arsenal resuming their fixture schedule against Fulham.
Arsenal signed Gyokeres for around £55m from Sporting Lisbon in the summer and he has since scored three goals in ten appearances in all competitions.
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