Viktor Gyökeres has to kick on for Arsenal after scoring Everton winner

Arsenal secured a slender 1-0 victory in a tightly contested match at Everton on Saturday evening with a potentially pivotal goal for Viktor Gyökeres the deciding moment.

The Swede struck from the penalty spot in the first half to ensure his side took all three points from their first visit to the Toffees' new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

It was his first goal for the Gunners since netting in a 2-0 win over Burnley on 1 November and while he had been injured for some of that period, his spot kick finish against Everton has to see him kick on in his Arsenal career.

Viktor Gyökeres has to kick on for Arsenal after scoring Everton winner

Let's be honest. Since making his £55m move from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, Gyökeres has had a very mixed start to his Arsenal career. Inconsistent form in front of goal and injuries have prevented him from proving his deadly ability to the Premier League.

With just seven goals in 20 appearances so far for the Gunners, his return in the first half of the season has been lacklustre to say the least and it's now time for him to seriously kick on in north London.

His strike on Merseyside was his first in almost two months and he has to view that as a turning point. As his side near the halfway point of the Premier League season currently sitting two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, he will have to be a reliable source of goals in attack if he is to lead Arsenal to their first league title in over 20 years.

It's incredibly premature to be referring to the Sweden international as a 'flop', despite rival fans' best attempts, but he has to stop that from becoming a genuine reality. There is nothing Gyökeres should want to do more than prove his haters wrong by netting important goals for the Gunners.

Not only is an improvement in form crucial for his side, it's also hugely important for his status within Mikel Arteta's squad. As he made his big-money move from Portugal, there was widespread certainty that he would be the Spaniard's first-choice striker and while that is still the case, there is potential for that status to fade over the coming weeks.

Gabriel Jesus has made his long-awaited return from injury and has looked bright in his comeback appearances, going close to netting on his first appearance back against Club Brugge and also forcing the winning own goal against Wolves. He is knocking on the door and if Gyökeres doesn't continue scoring, his place will be under threat.

Kai Havertz is also close to returning to the side and with Arteta preferring the Germany international as a striker, he may not hesitate in fielding him over his Swedish counterpart.

There are still mixed feelings about the Gunners' number 29, but there is no denying he has come up with important goals during his time at the club and he could be turned to if Gyökeres doesn't start firing on a consistent basis.

Not only is the Swede being pushed by returning players, Mikel Merino has also made a case to be a genuine striker for Arsenal. Having been a makeshift option last season, the Spain international has continued to do so this campaign, scoring five goals and providing three assists in 24 appearances. Having stepped in for Gyökeres while he was injured, he is certainly staying hot on his heels.

There is simply no option other than for Gyökeres to kick on for Arsenal after scoring against Everton. His penalty strike in the win over the Toffees should give him a real boost in confidence and with others creeping up on him and the Gunners' need for a reliable goalscorer, he has to start finding the back of the net regularly.