Mikel Arteta uses unusual analogy as Viktor Gyokeres closes in on Didier Drogba record

Viktor Gyokeres is preparing for Arsenal’s huge clash with Chelsea on Sunday

Viktor Gyokeres has the backing of Mikel Arteta – with the Arsenal striker on the verge of breaking a Didier Drogba record.

The Chelsea icon dominated derbies between the Gunners and the Blues, but after scoring twice in the North London Derby, Gyokeres can overtake the Blues legend for a first-season goal haul with three months left to go by repeating his double on Sunday afternoon.

Drogba finished both his first two seasons with 16 goals in all competitions; the Swede is on 15 after his brace against Spurs, and despite plenty of scrutiny, is moving into impressive company.

Arteta, however, made it clear with a bizarre analogy why making comparisons between players, even to provide context, isn’t always the best way to make judgments.

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“It’s always the case about who you compare with,” he said. “I have a beautiful apartment, but this guy has the biggest mansion in the world [pointing to his press officer colleague]. So my apartment is terrible?

“But I can be so proud that I worked so hard to get it and pay the debts of my apartment and refurbish it and have a beautiful kitchen. I go to his house, and I get depressed. So it depends on the eyes that you look at it.

“So I think what [Viktor’s] doing is improvable, yes. But I think his contribution, I think it’s been important so far.”

Like Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze found the net twice last weekend, and Arteta explained post-match how the England international had reacted with frustration at being dropped against Wolves.

When Gabriel Jesus returned after a long lay-off, Gyokeres too was, on occasion, dropped to the bench in place of the Brazilian. Despite Arteta believing that, like Eze, the 27-year-old was frustrated not to start, this came at a good time for him, and now he is hitting new heights.

“I think he was [frustrated]”, Arteta explained. “I don’t know internally how he felt. We tried to speak to the players to understand the reason why we made certain decisions. As well, I think it gave him a little bit of a breather because he was playing so much as well.

“And don’t forget that he had that injury that stopped him for five weeks as well. So the schedule has been so demanding, the expectation on him as well. I think it was a good time to navigate a little bit more.

“He came on in games when obviously the physical aspect of the game was dying a little bit, and he could have a massive impact. And from there I think he’s taken off.”

For Eze, the timing of his new form is perhaps no surprise to Crystal Palace supporters, considering he added 24 goal contributions in his last 31 league games between March and May.

“He can do [kick on],” Arteta said. “Now he has got many more months and games and understanding of what the games require for him to make the difference. I hope that it’s the case and that he smashes it from here until the end of the season.”

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