Mikel Merino believes it is “only a matter of time” before Viktor Gyokeres starts banging in the goals for Arsenal – and pointed to the positive impact he has made in other areas since joining the club.
Gyokeres is without a goal in his last seven games but has started every league game for the Gunners, helping them to the top of the table after eight games played following his summer move from Sporting CP.
And team-mate Merino says it is unfair to judge Gyokeres just on his goal tally, having scored three in 11 games in all competitions so far this campaign.
“Well, to be honest, I don’t think he’s taken a lot for him to adapt,” Merino said.
“I think he’s really good. He’s giving us many, many options on and off the ball.
“The work rate that he puts in every single game, you have to see the data, it’s unbelievable how much he helps the team on and off the ball.
“Sometimes it’s unfair for the strikers, because if you don’t score, it seems like you’re not doing anything, but he’s providing a lot for us and I’m sure goals will come. I am sure that he wants to score as much as everyone else.
“But the main thing is to help the team. If the team wins, we are a team, we are a collective so I’m pretty sure he’s also happy that he’s providing the best performances on and off the ball for his teammates.”
Merino also says Gyokeres is in the perfect environment to get the support he needs to succeed, and believes he will start scoring again soon.
“What we do with Victor, for example, try to show him love and try to support him, but it’s just the main mentality that we have as a team,” Merino continues.
“Everyone needs that love. Everyone needs that to feel comfortable, to feel surrounded by nice people and a team that they can count on.
“So yeah, Victor is just an example, but I think everyone is wishing him to keep doing what he’s doing.
“Obviously, if he scores goals, it’s even better for everyone and for him as well but the main thing, as I said before, is that the team wins and as long as the team is winning, he and everyone is going to be happy.
“He has the quality, for sure he has the quality. He has the tools, the physicality, he has the players around him to feed him those balls.
“And it’s a matter of time that he’s going to score goals that’s for sure.
“But yeah, we cannot be focusing only on the numbers. I know nowadays in modern football, numbers matter a lot but if you see the games, you can see how much he gives us.”