Mikel Arteta backs confident Viktor Gyokeres to hit ‘highest level’ after double

LONDON – Mikel Arteta said Viktor Gyokeres has raised his game to the “highest level” after the much-criticised striker scored twice in a 3-0 win over Sunderland on Feb 7.

Victory took the Gunners a provisional nine points clear at the top of the Premier League as they chase a first English title in 22 years.

Martin Zubimendi’s fine strike broke the deadlock just before half-time at the Emirates before Gyokeres sealed victory in the second half.

The Sweden international lashed home a shot from Kai Havertz’s pass before Gabriel Martinelli teed him up to slot into an empty net in stoppage time.

“They are very strong and good in the air so it’ll always be a battle. When you score three goals, it’s a good result,” he told Sky Sports.

“We’ve shown throughout the season that a lot of players have come from the bench and had an impact. It’s a very good sign and we have to keep it going.”

Gyokeres has struggled to match his prolific form at Sporting Lisbon, which earned him a £64 million (S$110.8 million) move to the London side.

But he is Arteta’s top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions, including six in his last eight appearances.

“Confidence is the magic word. When you feel confident, when you feel important, when you feel at your best, that’s when you can really take your game to the highest level,” said Arteta.

“We are really behind him in every moment to try to help him, to try to support him. He is delivering, and he’s in a really good moment now.

“Obviously, when you put that shirt on, there is lot of responsibility and huge expectation, and you need to live with that.”

Manchester City can reduce the gap at the top back to six points on Feb 8, but will need to secure their first win away to Liverpool in front of a crowd since 2003 to do so. That match ended after press time.

Arteta said he will be watching the clash between the two sides that have dominated English football over the past decade, but insisted Arsenal still have plenty of work to do to deliver a long-awaited title.

“We still have to win so many games to achieve what we want,” added the Spaniard.

“I’m going to have a beautiful dinner tonight. Tomorrow I start to prepare for Brentford (on Feb 12), because it’s going to be a really tough one. And in the meantime, I will be watching a big, big game.”

Meanwhile, in the late game on Feb 7, Brentford dealt a huge blow to Newcastle United’s hopes of qualifying for Europe with a 3-2 win at St James’ Park.

Dango Ouattara’s 85th-minute winner consigned Newcastle to a fourth defeat in their last five games in all competitions, leaving them languishing in 12th place before the Feb 8 fixtures.

Sven Botman had opened the scoring for the hosts, before the Bees hit back with goals by Vitaly Janelt and Igor Thiago to make it 2-1 to Brentford at the break.

Bruno Guimaraes’ 79th-minute penalty looked to have earned Newcastle a point before Ouattara’s intervention.

Said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe: “I’m obviously not doing my job well enough at the moment. I’m annoyed with myself, angry with myself, blaming myself, taking full accountability on my shoulders. No one else.”
AFP, REUTERS