Mikel Arteta believes Viktor Gyokeres has taken his game to the “highest level” after the striker scored a second-half brace in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sunderland.
Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring in the first half at the Emirates Stadium, and Gyokeres struck twice after coming on as a substitute — his first goal just six minutes after entering and a second in stoppage time — as Arsenal moved nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Gyokeres has faced criticism during his first season in north London, but his double extended his recent run to four goals in four matches and six in his last eight appearances. Arteta said: “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.
“We are really behind him in every moment to try to help him, to try to support him. And he is delivering, and he’s in a really good moment now. Obviously, when you put that shirt on, there is a lot of responsibility and huge expectation, and you need to live with that. In your journey, you’re going to have moments where it goes really well, and then others where it is going to be tough.
“With Viktor, it’s very difficult to understand his emotions because he looks straight at you. But he doesn’t seem too affected by the real highs or the lows. He’s very demanding of himself; he’s constantly trying to improve. I love his character, the way he approaches every single day and the fact that he’s so focused on the present, what he has to do, and he has a genuine will to help the team in whatever role he has.”
Gyokeres: Impact off the bench a good sign for Arsenal
Arsenal again showed their strength in depth with Gyokeres’ impact from the bench. The Gunners have now scored nine Premier League goals from substitutes this season, more than any other side. Gyokeres said it was a positive indication of the squad: “The results show it but [Sunderland] are a very good side. 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.
“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. We had some great results recently but it’s always tough and we have to be on top in every aspect to win games. We have to prepare our bodies and win the next one.”
Has Gyokeres found a new role to suit him at Arsenal?
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop notes Gabriel Jesus’ return has reduced Gyokeres’ guarantee of leading the line, which could suit the Swede. After a difficult season so far — 11 goals in 31 appearances — Gyokeres has shown marked improvement, with eight goal involvements in his last eight games. In 2026, he has more goals than any other Premier League player across all competitions.
Some of those goals came against lesser opponents, but key strikes against Chelsea and Inter Milan underline the quality. The finish against Inter was similar in nature to his late goal at Sunderland: bearing down on goal while the opposition pressed, with the added benefit of being fresher off the bench. That freshness and his ability to exploit transitions make him a potent option as an impact substitute, particularly in tight matches where Arsenal can absorb pressure and counter. The depth Arteta possesses — nine substitute goals being the most in the league — is vital, but how he deploys that depth will be crucial. Gyokeres may not have expected to be a regular super-sub at the Emirates, but it might be where he is most effective through the season’s end.
Arteta: We still have many games to win
Arsenal are in a strong position to challenge for their first title since 2004, with 39 points available across the remaining 13 rounds. Manchester City can cut the gap back to six if they beat Liverpool at Anfield. But Arteta played down the significance of the result in the title race: “Nothing. We still have to win so many games to achieve what we want.
“I’m going to have a beautiful dinner tonight. Tomorrow I start to prepare for Brentford (on Thursday), because it’s going to be a really tough one. And in the meantime, I will be watching a big, big game (between Liverpool and City).”