Mikel Arteta reacts to another Gyokeres 'stinker'

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed Viktor Gyokeres's performance against Manchester City.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta defended his new big-money striker, Viktor Gyokeres, from criticism after the Sweden international had an anonymous performance in the draw against Manchester City. 

Criticism of Gyokeres 

The Gunners splashed the cash this summer; most prominent was the £64 million they paid to Sporting for Gyokeres. Hence, extra attention has been paid to his performances. 

While he has scored three goals in the division this season, they came in two matches against Leeds and Nottingham Forest. He struggled in the top-billed matches they played against Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. 

Criticism followed the latest of those fixtures, against City, but his manager, Arteta, came to his defence, insisting that the striker was trying his hardest. 

What Arteta said 

Reporters asked Arteta about Gyokeres's performance, especially his struggles against Manchester City, and he had the following to say:

“Well, there were a lot of very good balls in the box; especially I remember three of them that he was very, very close to doing against City,” he said, per Goal. 

“To have very big open chances is extremely difficult, but he's certainly trying his best and trying to do that, and we have to provide more for him; that's it. 

“There were a lot of situations where the chances were there, and then the final pass was missing today. In many moments, it was very, very open.”