Speaking about the criticism surrounding Mikel Arteta's style of play, including how Viktor Gyokeres can still flourish at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal fan Watson Hirschfield said: "I saw a podcast the other day where they described our 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille as 'a very boring watch'.

"It's getting to a point where those comments are just boring. What do people want from us? I'm so confused. We won the Premier League last season, but people said we were the most boring team to ever win it and we cheated because we had set-piece plays.

"Arsenal haven't scored from a set-piece play at all this season. We are scoring very good open-play goals and it still doesn't meet people's standards or needs. You just can't put 'quality' and 'Arsenal' together for some reason in 2026 - and I'll never understand that.

"It gets to a point where Mikel Arteta needs a little bit of credit. It is OK to admit that Arsenal are actually playing good football. Sometimes you have to give credit where credit is due but, as an Arsenal fan of nearly 30 years, this is nothing new.

"I do feel sorry for Viktor Gyokeres, though.

"When he signed for Arsenal last season, I was so excited. He had just bagged the most goals across all European leagues and I thought he was going to be the guy, but we just aren't seeing his goalscoring ability this season because Kai Havertz is starting.

"If Arteta had it his way, I genuinely do believe that he would start Mikel Merino over Gyokeres.

"It's so bizarre because he is like R9 for Sweden, having scored four goals in four games in the Nations League, but he doesn't look like the same player for Arsenal. He is all a bit jittery and his football isn't as free-flowing.

"He isn't like Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Thierry Henry or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but he can hold up play very well and he can strike a ball when needed.

"It's clear to me that he just isn't Arteta's player - and I genuinely don't think he was the man to sign him, I believe it was the hierarchy's decision.

"I really do hope he comes true. I like him, I want to see that mask celebration a bunch more times this season, but it doesn't really look like he fits in.

"In my opinion, it is down to Arteta to give him that belief now."