MIKEL MERINO MOTIVATES GYöKERES TO BOUNCE BACK AND END SCORING STRUGGLES
Arsenal's Mikel Merino backs Viktor Gyokeres to end his goal drought, praising the striker's off-ball work and confidence. Despite 9 games without a goal, Merino insists the goals will come for the Swede.
Gyokeres has now gone nine games without scoring for his club or nation after drawing nothing in last Saturday's 1-0 victory against Fulham.
Merino, however, has commended the Swede's off-ball efforts and feels he has been instrumental in Arsenal's ascent to the Premier League's top spot.
The Spaniard believes Gyokeres' efforts will be rewarded and that the goals will begin to come naturally.
"He has the physicality, the tools, and the players around him to help him score goals, so it is just a matter of time until he does."
He seems quite self-assured to me. He seems like a highly self-assured guy to me. He does the correct things every day in training, as you can see.
"As long as he continues to work and give us his best performances...he seems to be aware of his abilities.
"I am not sure how many goals he scored last season, but it is something you do not forget every day."
"We all trust him, and he will be there." He is a top-tier player, as we all know, and I believe that is all.
"We try our best to love and support Viktor, but that is just our team's default mindset.
Everyone wants that affection, to feel at ease, to be surrounded by kind people, and to have a reliable team.
Viktor is merely one illustration of that, but I believe that everyone wants him to continue doing what he is doing.
"Obviously, it is even better for him and everyone else if he scores goals. However, as I already stated, the team's victory is what matters most. He and everyone else will be content as long as the team is winning.
Merino has advised fans not to ignore Gyokeres' contributions to the team, even though he may not have been finding the net.
He stated, "We cannot be concentrating just on the numbers."
"I am aware that statistics are quite important in modern sport. You can see how much he offers us, though, if you watch the games.
He is providing us with a plethora of options both on and off the ball. You must view the data to realise the incredible amount of labour he puts in throughout each game. He assists the squad both on and off the ball.
It might be unfair to strikers at times because it appears like they are not doing anything if they do not score.
However, he is giving us a lot, and I have no doubt that goals will materialise. He undoubtedly wants to score as many goals as the others, but helping the team win comes first.
"As we are a team and a collective, I am very certain that he is also pleased that he is giving his teammates the finest performances both on and off the ball."
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
