Mikel Arteta has backed Viktor Gyokeres to build on his improved performances in Arsenal’s EFL Cup win over Chelsea ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Nottingham Forest.
Gyokeres scored and registered an assist at Stamford Bridge in Wednesday’s match, ending a run of four games without a goal in all competitions.
However, the Sweden international, who was signed from Sporting CP for a transfer fee of £63.5 million (€73.5 million), has endured an inconsistent start to life at Arsenal.
But he has managed to score eight goals in 25 games in all competitions this season, a total bettered only by Gabriel Martinelli (nine) in Mikel Arteta’s ranks.
Gyokeres’ goals come at an expected total goals (xG) of 9.73, a slight underperformance, while he has also missed 13 big chances, with only Ollie Watkins (15), Jean-Philippe Mateta (22) and Erling Haaland (29) missing more among Premier League players in 2025/26.
He scored in the reverse fixture against Forest last September, a 3-0 win for the Gunners, becoming only the third Arsenal player to score in both of his first two Premier League home games, after Marouane Chamakh (September 2010) and Alexandre Lacazette (December 2017).
And with Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arteta believes Gyokeres will be a key figure in securing their first top-flight crown since 2003-04.
“He is a very demanding person. He knows the level we want, and he wants to reach the level we expect from him,” Arteta said.
“He has been very consistent. He had a great game against Chelsea and scored to help us win the game.”
“For the rest of his career, what he has done over the years has set the standard, and it is a standard that we expect him to maintain.
“It’s part of the expectations not just of Viktor, but of every number nine in the league. We expect them to be very good and consistent. That’s what he has to try to do.”
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last ten matches in all competitions since the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December and will fancy their chances of extending that run against Forest.
Forest, on the other hand, have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal, although both exceptions have occurred at the City Ground since their return to the division in 2022 (1-0 in May 2023, 0-0 in February 2025).
The Gunners have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Premier League games against Forest, their longest run of shutouts in the competition against the Tricky Trees.
Ahead of this weekend’s action, Arsenal are given an 86.2% chance of finishing top of the pile, and Arteta believes their consistency will be crucial going forward.
“We are building very good momentum. And the belief comes from the performances and the level of consistency we have already shown this season,” Arteta added.
“What we did at Stamford Bridge should help us to be confident that we can do it.
“But the reality is that you have to show it in every match. We are very happy that we are still alive in all four competitions.”
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