**Mikel Arteta insists it is too early to make conclusions on summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.**
The Swedish striker has scored nine goals in 27 games for Arsenal since moving to the club from Sporting CP for £64m last year.
Asked why the Gunners opted for the 27-year-old over other alternatives in the summer, Arteta explained: “Well, at the end we have to make a decision and we believe that Victor was the best one in the scenario that we were in, the qualities that we didn’t have in that number nine as well, because we have the situation with Gabby (Jesus) and Kai (Havertz) out for many, many months and we are very happy to have him.”
Expanding on the qualities that persuaded the club to sign him, he said: “Well, first of all goals. Someone that can guarantee goals. We know that that word doesn’t exist, but then someone very direct, very powerful, a proper nine that has the goal between the eyes and someone that can stretch the pitch for us a bit more especially when we have to play against a certain opposition.”
But Arteta has urged patience with the centre forward, insisting it is too early to draw conclusions despite a mixed start to life at the club.
“It’s very early to assess,” he said. “I mean, let’s assess at the end of the season and something like that. Even a very short sample.
“And understanding as well the league that we are competing and what is happening with the nines across the league as well, in the manner that the game is changing.
“So there are a lot of factors there to bear in mind to assess the player and then we’re going to assess the player not only with one of the aspects of the game but in many aspects of the game.”