7M - Mikel Arteta Praises Viktor Gyokeres for Reaching 'Peak Form' at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has stated that Viktor Gyokeres is performing at his "peak" after the striker came off the bench to score twice in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Sunderland.

After an excellent first-half strike from Martín Zubimendi opened the scoring at Emirates Stadium, Gyökeres found the net just six minutes after entering the pitch as a substitute.

The Swedish international then added another goal in added time, sealing a win that extends Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points ahead of Manchester City.

Gyökeres has faced scrutiny during his debut season in North London. However, his double takes his recent run to four goals in his last four matches, and six across his previous eight appearances.

"Confidence is everything," Arteta said. "When a player feels confident, valued, and at his best, that’s when he can truly reach the highest level. We are fully behind him at all times, working to support and guide him. He is responding well and is in a very positive phase right now.

"Wearing this shirt comes with great responsibility and significant expectation, and you must be able to handle that. Throughout a career, there will be periods where things go smoothly and others that are more challenging.

"With Viktor, it’s hard to read his emotions because he maintains eye contact and appears steady. He doesn't seem overly influenced by extreme highs or lows. He is very self-critical and always striving to get better.

"I admire his attitude, his daily approach, and how focused he remains on the present—on what he needs to do. He genuinely wants to contribute to the team in any role he is given."

Arsenal further demonstrated their squad depth through Gyökeres’ impact as a substitute.

The Gunners have now scored nine Premier League goals via substitutes this season—more than any other side—and Gyökeres views this as a positive indicator for the team.

"The scoreline reflects our performance, but [Sunderland] are a strong team," Gyökeres told Sky Sports. "They are physically robust and effective in the air, so it was always going to be a battle. Scoring three goals is a very good outcome.

"We have shown all season that many players can come off the bench and make a difference. That’s an excellent sign, and we need to maintain it.

"We’ve had some very good results lately, but every match is demanding. We must be at our best in every area to win games. We’ll recover, prepare well, and focus on winning the next one."