The 28-year-old joined Arsenal from Sporting CP ahead of last season after establishing himself as one of Europe's most prolific forwards. He subsequently finished the campaign as the club's leading Premier League scorer, with 14 goals in 36 appearances.
However, competition for the central attacking position has increasingly affected his involvement. Arteta has favoured Kai Havertz in the role, leaving Gyökeres to make an impact when introduced from the bench.
The Swedish international had scored in each of his country's Nations League matches during the latest international break, raising expectations that he would return to the Arsenal starting line-up. Instead, he was among the substitutes for the Premier League meeting with Leeds United.
Arteta nevertheless insisted that the forward would have further opportunities to demonstrate his quality.
“He will play matches and get minutes, and the best way is to show how good you are when you get on the pitch. It's as simple as that,” the Arsenal manager said at his press conference.
Gyökeres has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, a reduced role compared with his involvement during his debut campaign. His contract at the Emirates Stadium runs until the summer of 2030, and the club remain committed to developing his contribution to the team.
Arteta also acknowledged that Gyökeres was not the only player hoping for more opportunities. Midfielder Mikel Merino had scored twice for Spain during the international break, but the Arsenal manager pointed out that Martin Ødegaard had also been performing exceptionally well.
“Mikel has scored two goals for the national team, and the feeling is that he deserves to play as well. But Martin has been exceptional, and that's the situation at the moment,” Arteta said.
“The best thing is that they take their opportunity and prove what they can do when they get it. Then everyone will be happy.”
The comments underline the selection challenge facing Arteta as Arsenal balance individual ambitions with competition for places. A demanding fixture schedule should provide opportunities for rotation, but players will need to make the most of their chances when selected.
For Gyökeres, the immediate objective is to translate his international scoring form into consistent contributions at club level. His record from last season demonstrates that he can deliver goals in the Premier League, although adapting to Arsenal's preferred attacking approach remains important.
Arteta's message is that patience and performance will determine the striker's opportunities. With a long campaign ahead, Gyökeres will have further chances to establish himself as a regular starter, provided he makes the most of his minutes on the pitch.