Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta puts pressure on Viktor Gyokeres as striker admits transfer plan

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Arsenal will be looking to ensure they are top of the Premier League tree for Christmas when they visit Everton . The Gunners have been reeled in by Manchester City and Aston Villa in recent weeks, losing at the latter before needing two own goals to beat lowly Wolves last weekend.

With City hosting struggling West Ham in a 3pm kick-off, the Gunners could kick off at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday night behind Pep Guardiola's side. Third-placed Villa host Manchester United on Sunday.

Attention has also turned to the January transfer window , when the injury-hit Gunners could be active as they look to bolster their chances of challenging across several fronts over the second half of the season. Mirror Football brings you a round-up of the latest Gunners news…

Mikel Arteta has made it clear what he expects from Viktor Gyokeres over the second half of the season after an underwhelming start to his Gunners career. The form of Gyokeres has been a source of debate since his summer arrival from Sporting CP, with the Swedish attacker only scoring six times for his new club.

Despite going five games without a goal since the Swede returned from a hamstring injury, the Gunners boss believes there are positive signs of a better understanding being developed between the 27-year-old and his team-mates. But he has stressed that needs to continue.

Asked if he expected Gyokeres to go to another level in the second half of the season ahead of the Everton game, Arteta said: “I think so. I think the level of attention on him hasn’t changed since he signed until today. It’s normal.

"Everyone was excited to bring a [number] nine to the club, we did it and we brought a player with an incredible goalscoring record who has to adapt to the league.

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"He had no pre-season, the first few weeks were difficult because physically he wasn’t in his best state and he is a player that needs that to perform at the level.

"Then he kicked on, had a very good period and then got injured, but now he is back. I saw a lot of positive things in the last two games that he has done and we need to continue to understand him a little bit better in certain situations and he needs to do the same."

Gabriel Jesus has outlined plans to return to his boyhood club, Palmeiras, one day, although he has unfinished business with the Gunners to attend to first. The Brazilian has looked sharp since returning to action from a long-term knee injury.

There had been speculation that Arsenal may look to cash in on the 28-year-old, who has 18 months remaining on his contract. However, Arteta has said he no intention of selling Jesus, insisting he has an important role to play for the club over the next few seasons.

The man himself agrees, although he has one eye on finishing his career at Palmeiras, the club he joined Manchester City from in 2017, before moving to Arsenal five years later.

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Jesus said in the The Players' Tribune : "People have asked, 'Why don’t you just leave? Why don’t you go to Saudi? Or back home to Brazil?'

"One day, I would love for everything to come full circle with Palmeiras, but not today. I feel that I have unfinished business at Arsenal. I don't want to leave. When I came here to join Mikel [Arteta], my purpose was not only to score goals. My purpose was to win titles."

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