Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, Viktor Gyökeres is proving Mikel Arteta right

Viktor Gyökeres has not been the smash hit that Arsenal fans would have hoped for. However, the signs have been encouraging. He is yet to hit the ground running in goal-scoring, but every other element of his game has been nearly flawless.

Gyökeres went from being the main target man at Sporting to being involved in a more intricate system at Arsenal. Therefore, he hasn't been as much of a central threat as he was in Portugal, but the way he's linked up with his Arsenal teammates has been positive.

The truth is that being a center forward is about more than just scoring goals.

Mikel Arteta made his thoughts on Viktor Gyökeres crystal clear

Mikel Arteta spoke at length about Viktor Gyökeres' opening few months at Arsenal. Mostly, he was positive about how Gyökeres has adapted, even if he came with a few teething problems at first.

At the core of Arteta's messaging, though, is that we need to start viewing Gyökeres through the lens of more than just the goals he's scoring.

In his own words, Mikel Arteta said: “[Viktor Gyökeres] has to adapt to a different starting system. I think the two things have to emerge. I think we have to put the player in the best possible condition to explode and fulfill his potential.

"And there are certain things that, within the role, in the manner that we play, has to be fulfilled. And that's a combination of both. And then it's not only that. I think more importantly is the connections and the players around him at the end."

“Those interactions, that understanding, how it develops. And before the injury, I think he was in a great place. I think it took him a while at the beginning because, as you said, it's a different league, different demands, had no precision. And now he's just starting to get, again, some momentum. And the goals will come, and we're going to be very pleased with him.”

Arsenal fans expect too much from Viktor Gyökeres

Look, this messaging from Arteta is pretty spot on. As fans, we naturally want to see goals from our center forwards, and when they aren't being bagged, it feels like all hell is breaking loose.

Truthfully, Arsenal is a better team this season than they were last season. Even with Kai Havertz out injured, Viktor Gyökeres and Mikel Merino have both stepped up to plug that gap well, and Arsenal can't really have any complaints about their attack.

Mikel Merino is a better goal-scorer than Viktor Gyökeres, but Gyökeres is a better link-up player than Merino. It's wild that's even the case, but that's a story for another day.

If Gyökeres scored double the number of goals but reduced his involvement with other players on the pitch, Arsenal would be a worse team than they currently are.

Like it or lump it, we cannot hide from the facts. Viktor Gyökeres is a better player than he is made out to be. Until he starts making his Arsenal teammates worse, which he won't do, let's stop pretending he is a detriment to the team.