Speaking at a press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked about the Swede's lack of minutes, and answered with a message of support.
"Especially in the league, he hasn't played many minutes. But he played last week in Naples and gave a good performance.
"It's also about the moments; we need to give him all the support and confidence he needs to give his best."
Gyökeres started at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on 9 September, one of four players making a first start of the season in Arsenal's 1-0 Champions League win, in which the team had 26 shots, a club record for an away game in the competition.
He was replaced by Kai Havertz on 73 minutes, two minutes before Martin Ødegaard scored the only goal, and it was only his third appearance of the campaign.
That is a modest return for a player who arrived in 2025 because Arteta needed a striker. Gyökeres is 28, and Arsenal, English champions last season and Champions League runners-up after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, won their first three Premier League games of the new campaign. The team's success has not translated into many opportunities for the forward.
The situation has attracted attention in Italy. AC Milan and Juventus have reportedly offered themselves as destinations should Gyökeres want to leave in the January transfer window. The Swede is also said to be on the radar of Saudi clubs Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.
For Arsenal, this presents a dilemma. Arteta has spoken publicly about backing his forward, and his remarks after the Napoli game were an attempt to protect his confidence. But the club will have to tread carefully in the coming weeks.
Arteta has praised Gyökeres before. After Arsenal beat Atlético de Madrid in last season's Champions League semi-final, the manager singled him out as "immense".
The question, for now, is whether Gyökeres will be given enough minutes to matter.