Viktor Gyökeres must be wondering what more he needs to do to earn a regular starting place at Arsenal.The Swedish striker returned from international duty in excellent goalscoring form, yet found himself watching from the bench as Kai Havertz started against Leeds United yesterday.Gyökeres entered the action after 63 minutes, helping Arsenal complete their comeback, but he remains some way from establishing himself as Mikel Arteta’s preferred centre-forward.Now, with Lille visiting the Emirates on Tuesday, Arteta has offered an interesting response to questions about the striker’s opportunities.Arteta challenges Gyökeres to prove himselfSpeaking in his post-match press conference on Arsenal, Arteta insisted that Gyökeres would receive opportunities.“He will play games and he will have minutes,” the Arsenal manager explained.However, he also emphasised that players must demonstrate their quality when those opportunities arrive.“The best way is when they have the chance, prove it,” he added.Arteta also acknowledged Mikel Merino’s impressive performances for Spain, highlighting the competition for places throughout his squad.But is the manager asking too much of a striker who has barely featured in the Premier League this season?(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Does Gyökeres deserve more than substitute appearances?There is certainly an argument that the Swedish international needs a sustained run in Arsenal’s starting eleven.His international performances demonstrate that his goalscoring instincts haven’t disappeared. Perhaps the greater challenge is adapting Arsenal’s attacking approach to make better use of those qualities.During yesterday’s 2-1 comeback against Leeds, Gyökeres showed encouraging moments, although he also wasted an opportunity to score late on.Nevertheless, a handful of minutes here and there is hardly the ideal environment for building confidence.Arteta clearly appreciates Havertz’s movement and ability to link play, but Arsenal invested heavily in Gyökeres for a reason.Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Lille could offer the perfect opportunity to give him a proper chance.What do you think, Gooners? Is Arteta right to demand more from Gyökeres, or does the manager need to show greater faith in his striker?Join the debate in the Just Arsenal comments below._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest News“Prove it”: Arteta sends clear message to Gyökeres ahead of Lille11 October 2026, 19:15“He’s not the player that he was”: Arsenal legend sparks debate over Saka’s form11 October 2026, 17:45Arsenal’s title rivals clash at Anfield: Who are you supporting, Gooners?11 October 2026, 16:15The post “Prove it”: Arteta sends clear message to Gyökeres ahead of Lille appeared first on Just Arsenal News.