While Havertz enjoys the manager’s trust, Gyokeres finds himself firmly on the fringes. The 28-year-old was handed a rare start in Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Lille but was substituted in the second half after failing to make an impact. He remains goalless in seven club appearances this season, a sharp contrast to his four goals on recent international duty.
When questioned about the Swede’s confidence levels following his rapid decline in minutes, Arteta was quick to defend the striker’s commitment.
“That’s a very personal question,” Arteta stated. “What he transmits to me is an incredible will and determination and work-rate to improve and help the team. That’s Viktor every single day, regardless of his position, whether he scores a goal or not, and that’s why he’s always an option to play.
“We are trying to help him as much as possible. He has some very good moments, but it’s very small margins, and scoring, or not scoring, changes the narrative.”
