{"id":1773,"date":"2026-04-11T09:58:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T09:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1773"},"modified":"2026-04-11T09:58:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T09:58:27","slug":"viktor-gyokeres-makes-arsenal-nerves-admission-and-responds-to-mikel-arteta-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1773","title":{"rendered":"Viktor Gyokeres makes Arsenal &#8216;nerves&#8217; admission and responds to Mikel Arteta demand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_b6bb55\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Viktor Gyokeres is hoping to fire Arsenal to the Premier League title and help them win the Champions League this season, but the pressure has been cranked up after two domestic cup exits<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36997105\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal's Swedish striker #14 Viktor Gyokeres (R) shakes hands with Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (L) as he is substituted during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on January 31, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF\/AFP via Getty Images) \/ RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club\/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club\/league\/player publications.\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997105.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2258645595.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997105.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2258645595.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997105.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2258645595.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997105.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2258645595.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta wants Viktor Gyokeres to handle the tough times\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta wants Viktor Gyokeres to handle the tough times<cite aria-label=\"Image: Oli SCARFF\/AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Oli SCARFF\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Viktor Gyokeres admits that &#8216;nerves&#8217; have the potential to derail Arsenal&#8217;s title hopes &#8211; but only if they fail to harness them in the right way. Gyokeres, 27, and his team-mates are top of the Premier League table by nine points with only seven games to go.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Gunners are also unbeaten in the Champions League and have one foot in the semi-finals thanks to Tuesday&#8217;s late 1-0 win against Sporting Lisbon. But following their recent defeat by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and loss at Southampton in the FA Cup last weekend, there&#8217;s even more pressure on Arsenal to deliver.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side have been accused of playing with fear in recent weeks, and while Gyokeres understands the nerves, he believes that they can be a force for good. In an exclusive interview with <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.football.london\/arsenal-fc\/news\/viktor-gyokeres-exclusive-interview-arsenal-33747759\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">football.london<\/a>the striker explained: &#8220;I think if you feel nerves, I think it means that it matters for you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s not bad if you take it in the right way and you put that energy in the right direction. So to have nerves, I think it&#8217;s not a bad thing. It&#8217;s just bad if you convert it into something negative, and it depends on how you handle those emotions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">WORLD CUP LEGENDS: <a aria-label=\"The stars who lit up football's greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition todayLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/world-cup-legends-5666-p.asp\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">The stars who lit up football&#8217;s greatest tournament &#8211; Buy the Special Edition today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_020eaf\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Arsenal star returns from injury as Mikel Arteta keeps cards close to his chest<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_020eaf\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Mikel Arteta warned about Arsenal failure as Jamie Carragher issues Premier League ultimatum<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After signing Gyokeres from Sporting in a deal worth up to \u00a364million last summer, Arteta told the Sweden international that he must handle going through dry spells in front of goal. &#8220;I told him, before the first meeting, the (number) nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn&#8217;t score for six or eight games, he can handle that,&#8221; Arteta said in October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;If not, we have to go somewhere else because the pressure, the expectation is going to be there so if you put on the number nine shirt for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, &#8216;six games, don&#8217;t score, am I a different player? And start to act in a different way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Will Arsenal win a trophy this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36997104\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36997104\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse\/Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997104.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2266507957.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997104.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2266507957.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997104.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2266507957.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36997104.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2266507957.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Viktor Gyokeres has scored 17 goals so far this season\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Viktor Gyokeres has scored 17 goals so far this season<cite aria-label=\"Image: James Gill - Danehouse\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: James Gill &#8211; Danehouse\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Although now certainly isn&#8217;t a dry spell, having scored five goals in his last four games for club and country, the former Coventry City star is heeding his manager&#8217;s advice. &#8220;It&#8217;s always the best feeling if we win games and I score as many goals as I can in the game, that&#8217;s the best feeling as a striker, no matter what anyone says,&#8221; Gyokeres said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I think everyone who plays as a nine wants that, but then that&#8217;s not the reality. You&#8217;re going to have games where you don&#8217;t score, maybe you didn&#8217;t get the chances, or you didn&#8217;t take them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Just stay focused and be ready because it&#8217;s going to come. And when it comes, you have to be ready.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em><a aria-label=\"Join our new WhatsApp communityLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Mirror Football<\/strong> content. 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See paper for details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Viktor Gyokeres is hoping to fire Arsenal to the Premier League title and help them<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}