Viktor Gyokeres has spelled it out. He wants to stay at Arsenal, and he is not especially bothered by the noise around his performances.

That matters, because the debate has not gone away. Gyokeres finished as Arsenal’s top scorer in his first season at the Emirates and helped deliver the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years. Even so, the argument around him has been simple. Product in front of goal, yes. Natural fit in Mikel Arteta’s system, not always.

Gyokeres addresses Arsenal future

Asked directly if he wants to remain at Arsenal, the Sweden forward gave a clear answer: “I want to.”

He also pointed to his own form and the team’s results when he has featured. “It feels good when I’ve played. We’ve won most of the games. It was a tough loss in the cup [Fleetwood]. Otherwise it’s felt good for myself and the team. I’ve been doing well lately when I’ve been playing. Right now it feels good.”

Those are fair points. Arsenal have generally functioned well with him in the side, and his recent output, including a goal and an assist against Slavia Prague in the Champions League, gave him a decent case for more minutes.

Arteta calls raise familiar issue

Still, selection tells its own story. Gyokeres has started only one league match this season, and Arteta has repeatedly trusted Kai Havertz in the bigger games. Managers do not hand out minutes for sentiment. They pick what they believe gives them control, structure and reliability.

Gyokeres suggested there is no problem behind the scenes. “The communication with Arteta is good. We talk about football and how we should play. Before a match, if I’m going to start, we talk about the opponents and what I should think about.”

Criticism fails to shift striker focus

Critics have questioned his level, especially after a slow start. Troy Deeney went further, arguing Arsenal players do not trust Gyokeres enough to find him consistently.

The striker’s response was blunt and sensible. “Sometimes it might get to me, but overall not so much,” he said. “If I score goals and assists in the Champions League, I couldn’t care less what they say.

“It’s nice to do those kinds of performances. To deliver for myself and for the team. That’s where the focus lies.

“It’s natural too. It’s what gets the most headlines and what sticks the most when people listen. I understand that’s how it is.”

For now, Arsenal have a forward who wants to stay. Whether Arteta fully trusts him is the real question.