{"id":1797,"date":"2026-04-11T11:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T11:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1797"},"modified":"2026-04-11T11:18:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T11:18:09","slug":"viktor-gyokeres-interview-arsenal-star-on-keys-to-title-success-mikel-arteta-impact-and-nerves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1797","title":{"rendered":"Viktor Gyokeres interview: Arsenal star on keys to title success, Mikel Arteta impact and nerves"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Viktor Gyokeres entered the room with an air of confidence. This was not a striker who appeared nervous as Arsenal compete to win both the Premier League and Champions League.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The experience of the former Sporting CP man, who won back to back titles in Portugal, will be crucial to the Gunners as we enter the final straight of the 2025\/26 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gyokeres has spearheaded Arsenal\u2019s chase for their ultimate goal for the majority of the season and has now urged his teammates to bring focus and enjoyment to the title run-in despite the weight of hope and expectation on their shoulders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking exclusively to <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">football.london,<\/strong> Gyokeres explained what it takes mentally to win a league campaign. \u201cYou have to be so focused every game and take every game as seriously as you can, no matter who you play. All the points that you get count in the end,&#8221; the 27-year-old said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a aria-label=\"Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook pageLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou have to think like that, but also not to get too frustrated if it doesn&#8217;t go your way because it&#8217;s always a long season and there\u2019s still a lot to play for.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cEven now, when we&#8217;re in April, there&#8217;s a lot of games still to play, we just have to focus on doing our job and to enjoy it. Not think too much about what can happen or how the end result is going to be. I think the most important thing is to play football and to enjoy it on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There was a major effort in the summer to add depth to the Arsenal squad. Mikel Arteta wanted at least two strong candidates for each position, with Gyokeres joining Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus as the centre-forward options.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, alongside this depth of quality was an attention to the experience of winning. Martin Zubimendi, a Copa del Rey winner with Real Sociedad, Eberechi Eze, an FA Cup winner with Crystal Palace, and Piero Hincapie, an invincible Bundesliga title-holder, all joined.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kepa Arrizabalaga, a multi-cup-winning keeper, and Noni Madueke, a UEFA Conference League winner and part of the Chelsea group that would go on to win the Club World Cup, also signed. These experienced winners will undoubtedly help those in the squad who have come up short in recent seasons, but while Gyokeres agrees different mindsets and perspectives are important, everyone must have the same intention &#8211; to win trophies.<\/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-33748510\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33748510\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.33\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tom Canton sits down for an exclusive chat with Gyokeres\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748510.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_IMG_4166.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748510.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_IMG_4166.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748510.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_IMG_4166.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748510.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_IMG_4166.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Tom Canton sits down for an exclusive chat with Viktor Gyokeres\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Tom Canton sits down for an exclusive chat with Viktor Gyokeres<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cEvery player has different experiences through their careers and different feelings about the same situations,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it&#8217;s always important to come with a different mindset sometimes and to look at it in a different way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cBut with the same intentions as everyone else in the club, and together with everyone. We have a lot of players in the team who have won trophies, and that&#8217;s what we want to do again this season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It isn\u2019t just players, however. Gabriel Heinze joined the coaching staff in the summer just before the \u00a363.5million striker\u2019s arrival, and has added his own experiences of winning, too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A Premier League, Ligue 1 and La Liga winner as a player, the Argentine knows exactly what it takes to be victorious. With the Gunners having the best goalscoring and defensive record this season in the English top flight, his influence is clear and despite working at the other end of the field to Heinze\u2019s main focus, Gyokeres detailed his benefits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI think he brings a lot of good energy into the group,\u201d Gyokeres said. \u201cHe has a good drive in him, and I think that spreads throughout the group. A lot of experience as a player as well. He brings a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-grouped\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_container__i0sRj\" data-testid=\"portrait-image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><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-33748512\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33748512\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Speaking to football.london in an exclusive interview\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748512.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_IMG_9901.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748512.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_IMG_9901.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748512.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_IMG_9901.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748512.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_IMG_9901.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Speaking to football.london in an exclusive interview\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Speaking to football.london in an exclusive interview<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><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-33748624\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33748624\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gyokeres has enjoyed his first season with Arsenal\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748624.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_IMG_0720-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748624.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_IMG_0720-1.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748624.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_IMG_0720-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33748624.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_IMG_0720-1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Gyokeres has enjoyed his first season with Arsenal\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gyokeres has enjoyed his first season with Arsenal<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arteta has taken so many players under his wing as Arsenal\u2019s manager, trying to get the maximum from them and help improve them. Players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber have been developed from a young age and now stand among the world\u2019s elite for their positions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Even players who arrived later in their careers, such as Havertz, David Raya, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard, have made big strides. Gyokeres falls in the age bracket of the latter, and while he remains very new and has had limited time with his new coach, he admits to being introduced to plenty of new things, and there is a clear, holistic and individual plan of development on a daily basis for players.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s been very interesting,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of new things, you learn a lot every day here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cSo, in that sense, it&#8217;s great. He tries to improve us every day, individually and as a team. I just try to be the best I can in training and in the games. Go forward as a player and as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gyokeres has netted 17 goals across all competitions this season, six clear of the nearest top scorer in the team. Despite having periods of challenge, Arteta spoke in October when the striker had just three goals to his name, about what he wanted in the player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI 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,\u201d Arteta said. \u201cIf not, we have to go somewhere else.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cBecause 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI want much more of the same of what he\u2019s doing and yeah, when we have to opportunities (put them away). I am sure he is going to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gyokeres is an unfazed character, with confidence in his ability. When asked about Arteta\u2019s comments, it was clear that there is a belief in the contribution to the team and the winning of the game was the priority, no matter how good it feels to score goals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt&#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; the Sweden international said. &#8220;I think everyone who plays as a nine wants that, but then that&#8217;s not the reality.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article29688868.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou&#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. Just stay focused and be ready because it&#8217;s going to come. And when it comes, you have to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Collectively, Arsenal have drawn plenty of scrutiny, and eliminations from the League Cup and FA Cup only heightened that. Suggestions of nerves permeating through the team, leading to tense matches, have been a mainstay in the mainstream discussion around the Gunners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Some might dismiss this when asked about it, even if indeed the nerves are present, believing that they show some sense of weakness. Not Gyokeres.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Nerves, for the Swede, are only something bad if you allow them to become something bad. Nerves make you human, and instead of them being a sign of fearfulness, instead, they indicate how much someone truly cares for something, as this Arsenal team cares deeply about winning this Premier League title.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI think if you feel nerves, I think it means that it matters for you,\u201d he stated. \u201cI think it&#8217;s not bad if you take it in the right way and you put that energy in the right direction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cSo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Viktor Gyokeres entered the room with an air of confidence. This was not a striker<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}