[Oliver Walton
Oliver Walton](https://www.footballinsider247.com/author/oliver-walton)
Correspondent AUTHORITY Football journalist with experience at Reach PLC and PA Media; University of Central Lancashire graduate. FOCUS Fan-engagement content and match analysis across the Premier League and Championship. THE INSIGHT Oliver utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified reporting and fan-first content. He provides the human stories behind the results to ensure fans get the full picture as it happens.
The 28-year-old scored 21 goals in 55 appearances last term as they won the Premier League, but was criticised for his poor all-round game and ultimately lost his place in the side to Kai Havertz.
He started for just the fifth time this season at Highbury on Tuesday night, scoring in the second half as the Gunners were dumped out on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Gyokeres has three goal contributions in as many appearances and looks to have edged ahead of Havertz in the battle to lead the line under Arteta for now.
Deeney's verdict on his struggles is a strange one, and surely does not reflect the Swede's thinking right now as he fights tooth and nail to become a regular starter for Arsenal.
Viktor Gyokeres should be glad he was handed successive Arsenal start vs Fleetwood
Gyokeres made his maiden Premier League start of the campaign against Everton last weekend, registering an assist for Ezri Konsa's opener.
He scored after featuring for the full 90 minutes against the Cods on Tuesday, but Deeney gave some insight into how he thought the 28-year-old should have viewed his place in the side after the defeat.
While live on CBS Sports, he said: “Personally, I would be kind of offended if the manager was saying I was playing in this game. That would be how I look at it. The problem he’s had, in all seriousness, is a difficult summer; every time they were linked with Julian Alvarez or any other player, he was part of the deal to go.
“They were trying to get him out the door, remember he didn’t play until the window closed. So there was that moment for him where he was feeling unloved, unwanted; he’s gone to Sweden, scored six in six, so he’s got the confidence when he’s away. But with Arsenal, and I say it week in, week out...the other part to it is that the players don’t trust him.”
While his last sentiment may have some truth to it, there is simply no way that Gyokeres should feel upset at being trusted to lead the line in any game for the Gunners right now.
The Carabao Cup clash represented the first time he has started successive games for the club this season, which shows that he is clearly going up in Arteta's estimation.
He was chosen to lead the line ahead of Havertz, who started in attacking midfield, and contributed much more to the win than the German, who registered just one shot on target from seven attempts and missed two big chances to score.
The notion that Gyokeres was offered the start out of pity is clearly incorrect, as he was trusted in a Premier League match last weekend and may well keep his place for their trip to Liverpool next up as a result of Havertz's struggles and his own good form.
He is not in any kind of position to be feeling sorry for himself at this stage of his career, and the fact he scored on the night will surely leave Gyokeres feeling glad that he was given the chance to feature against lower-league opposition to improve his confidence in front of goal.
Arteta has publicly backed Gyokeres to rediscover his scoring touch
Plenty of rumours around his future are flying about, but Gyokeres clearly remains a key part of Arteta's plans for now as Arsenal aim for back-to-back titles and European success.
The Gunners manager hinted at more opportunities being in the pipeline for the Swedish forward as he backed him to start scoring regularly again earlier this week.
He said: "He was unlucky two or three moments [against Everton]. He’s in front of goal, he’s won the position to both centre-backs and the ball doesn’t get there, but he’s done a lot of good things. I think he had a really good contribution in Munich as well when he came on. He helped us to change the game and that’s what we need from all of them."
Gyokeres clearly does need better service, with just two shots on target registered in his last three starts across all competitions, and it is on Arteta to find a system that allows him to thrive this season.