Sweden head coach Graham Potter says he has never had any doubts over Viktor Gyokeres’ quality and the criticism the Arsenal striker has faced is just ‘a part of the job’.
Arsenal made it their priority to sign an out-and-out goalscorer last summer after three successive runners-up finishes within the Premier League under Mikel Arteta.
A protracted list of big-name centre-forwards were linked at first of the transfer window before the Gunners honed in on a £63.5million cope with Sporting for Gyokeres.
The 27-year-old Sweden international had taken Portuguese football by storm after leaving Coventry City for Lisbon in 2023, netting 97 times in 102 appearances for Sporting in all competitions.
In his opening half-a-season on the Emirates, Gyokeres has struggled to make the identical explosive impact, with the attacker scoring in just two of his first nine matches within the Premier League.
A powerful return of eight goals in his last 12 games, though, including a brace in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham, has quietened those doubting Gyokeres’ elite-level credentials in the intervening time.
Nevertheless, there’s the somewhat large caveat that seven of Gyokeres’ ten goals within the English top flight have come against the underside six. He can be yet to seek out the back of the web versus a team in the highest nine within the league.
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‘It was superb for him. I feel it highlights his character and personality,’ Sweden manager Potter told Sportbladet following Gyokeres’ double within the north London derby.
‘From my perspective, there is no such thing as a doubt about Viktor. He’s a top player, a top person.
‘I feel he has contributed to where Arsenal are as a team in all 4 competitions.
‘Every player sometimes goes through a period where they get a little bit of criticism. That’s a part of the job.’
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The Swedish national team are sweating over the fitness of three of their star men ahead of their all-important World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine in a month’s time.
Dejan Kulusevski is predicted to miss the tie attributable to a knee problem, while each Alexander Isak and Lucas Bergvall are also sidelined and appear unlikely to feature.
‘Without delay we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully we will get a few of those guys back,’ Potter said of Sweden’s injury concerns.
‘But when not, now we have to seek out an answer with the fellows which are available.’
Asked if he had a message for Arteta regarding Gyokeres’ playing time heading into Sweden’s play-off, the ex-Chelsea manager replied: ‘I don’t think he’ll be particularly occupied with what I actually have to say, to be honest
‘I don’t blame him. I feel he has quite a bit on his mind.’
Gyokeres will little doubt be desirous to carry his goalscoring form from the derby into Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea this weekend.
But facing the media shortly after Arsenal’s defeat of Spurs, the striker admitted there was still some room for improvement in his display.
Asked if he felt it was his best performance yet in Arsenal colors, Gyokeres replied: ‘In some features, I feel it was a very good one. In some others, I feel it could’ve done a number of bits higher.
‘It was a tricky game. I feel we showed significantly better things on the pitch today.’
While Gyokeres was reluctant to pat himself on the back, Arteta heaped praise on his marquee summer signing and felt the the striker’s showing was perhaps his ‘most complete’ yet.
‘For me, the very best, essentially the most complete and particularly when we’d like him most,’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters.
‘That’s when big players and massive clubs must rise up if you end up needed.’
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