TOPSHOT - Sweden's forward #17 Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Nations League Group B4 football match between Sweden and Romania in Solna, Sweden on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Sweden's forward #17 Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Nations League Group B4 football match between Sweden and Romania in Solna, Sweden on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP via Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres says he expects to be playing ‘as much football as possible’ after starting the season out of favour at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.
Signed last summer for £64million, Gyokeres scored 21 goals in his debut campaign in England but often found himself benched for Kai Havertz on the biggest stages – including the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Havertz has started all five of Arsenal’s Premier League games this term with the Sweden international limited to just 29 minutes of top flight playing time off the bench having also started games in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
It comes after he was linked with a move away from north London in the summer, offered up to Atletico Madrid as part of Arsenal’s efforts to try and sign Julian Alvarez.
Gyokeres scored his first goal of the season for his country in a Nations League win over Romania on Friday night, tapping home from close range after an effort from Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall was saved by the goalkeeper.
The 28-year-old is keen to keep the momentum going once the international break ends, telling fotbollskanalen: ‘It felt good (to score) and I felt good physically. I felt involved, so it was fun to be out there playing.
Mikel Arteta
Arteta has prefereed Kai Havertz up top (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I haven’t played a lot, but I’ve had a few games. It’s felt okay then, but it’s clear that I want to play football and as much as possible. Hopefully that will come, too. You always want to be on the field as a football player.’
‘Of course you expect more playing time, but we have an extremely good squad with a lot of good players and have been doing well here at the start,’ he continued.
‘I’m just trying to focus on what I can control and do my best to play more.’
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Gyokeres acknowledged he ‘needs to do better’ and says there has been positive conversations between him and Mikel Arteta.
[OSLO, NORWAY - SEPTEMBER 24: Erling Haaland of Norway reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Norway and Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion on September 24, 2026 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Marius Nordnes / Nordnes Foto/Getty Images)
OSLO, NORWAY - SEPTEMBER 24: Erling Haaland of Norway reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Norway and Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion on September 24, 2026 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Marius Nordnes / Nordnes Foto/Getty Images)](https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/25/erling-haaland-u-turn-made-man-city-found-guilty-premier-league-charges-29654669/)
‘I obviously need to do better and I’m willing to do it, so it’s no problem,’ he said.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Sportphoto24/Franco Romano/Shutterstock (17145195cd) Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Naples Italy on 09 September 2026. (Photo Franco Romano) SSC Napoli v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - 09 Sep 2026
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Sportphoto24/Franco Romano/Shutterstock (17145195cd) Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Naples Italy on 09 September 2026. (Photo Franco Romano) SSC Napoli v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - 09 Sep 2026
‘It’s good (the dialogue with the coach). I just try to do well when I get the chance and score goals.’
Gyokeres could have a chance to prove his worth in the starting XI with Havertz picking up an injury while on international duty with Germany.
Arsenal return to action on 10 October when they take on Leeds United.