Mikel Arteta defended Viktor Gyokeres after his subdued performance against Liverpool and insisted the Arsenal summer signing is ‘getting better’.

Gyokeres had just seven touches of the ball in Thursday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool before being subbed off with half an hour remaining.

Many Arsenal fans were disappointed by Gyokeres’ contribution, taking to social media to express their displeasure in a player who cost the Gunners £64m.

It was hoped Gyokeres would solve Arsenal’s No. 9 issues and propel the club to a long-awaited Premier League title.

But while Arteta’s side are indeed on course for their first league title since 2004, that has little to do with Gyokeres, who has scored only five goals in 18 league games and gone 11 matches without a goal from open play.

Ex-Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville was hugely critical of Gyokeres’ performance against Liverpool but Arteta defended his summer recruit.

‘He was in great positions,’ Arteta said after the goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium. ‘Sometimes the ball didn’t arrive.

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