Arsenal boss Artéta confident Viktor Gyokeres can reach higher levels

'You can imagine the global impact you're going to have to deal with when you come to a big club and the expectation that it is, but after you have to live with it', explained the Gunners boss

STRAINING: Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres 

Mikel Arteta has backed under-fire Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres to go to another level during the second half of the season.

The form of Gyokeres has been a continuous debate since his summer arrival from Sporting Libson, with the Swedish attacker only able to score six times for his new club.

Despite being five games without a goal since the Swede returned from a hamstring injury, the Gunners boss believes there are positive signs of a better understanding being developed between the 28-year-old and his team-mates.

Asked if he expected Gyokeres to go to another level in the second half of the season ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton, Arteta said: "I think so "I think the level of attention on him hasn't change since he signed until today. It's normal. Everyone was excited to bring a (number) nine to the club, we did it and we brought a player with an incredible goalscoring record who has to adapt to the league.

"He had no pre-season, the first few weeks were difficult because physically he wasn't in his best state and he is a player that needs that to perform at the level. Then he kicked on, had a very good period and then got injured, but now he is back.

"I saw a lot of positive things in the last two games that he has done and we need to continue to understand him a little bit better in certain situations and he needs to do the same, but that's time and we have full support for him.

"You can imagine the global impact you're going to have to deal with when you come to a big club and the expectation that it is, but after you have to live with it.

"Living with it is always slightly different to your imagination, but he is doing it with a lot of desire, his energy level and commitment. It is absolutely top and we're here to help him.

"We've all been here, we all need time and there are always moments where strikers score more goals or less goals, but we need to be there for him."

Gyokeres could soon have competition in the form of Kai Havertz, who Arteta revealed is close to a return following knee surgery in August.

"Yeah, (Kai) is progressing really well and quite fast in the last few weeks," the Spaniard confirmed.

"If everything continues like that in the next training sessions, he will be with us soon. I don't want to say (when) because again I think in that last part of (rehab) and especially after such a long time, we need to be cautious.

"And I will need to go really firm with the risk we take along the way to make sure when he is back, he is back and back for the long term."

Arteta will celebrate his six-year anniversary at Arsenal on Saturday night, and he revealed Ben White will only miss "a few games" and was "quite positive" centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes will be back during the busy festive period.