Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres
A striker who is not starting still has to answer the same two questions. Does he want to leave? Can he live with the minutes?
The first answer closes a window that other clubs tried to open. The second is the one that follows him home.
A goal for his country does not pick the next league team. It does make the quotes easier to give.
READ MORE: German winger in talks to sign for Arsenal ahead of January
Viktor Gyokeres has told SVT that leaving Arsenal was never in his mind, despite summer links and a slow start to this season. He scored the winner as Sweden beat Romania 2-1 on Friday.
“Of course there was a lot of speculation. But I had a whole pre-season and it felt good,” he said. “I was fully focused on Arsenal. For me, staying was a given. I feel extremely comfortable at the club.”
On last season: “It felt good last season, we won the league and we did well in all the other tournaments too. Of course we could have won some more titles, but of course it’s acceptable after 22 years of waiting to win the Premier League.”
Kai Havertz has started the five league games. Gyokeres has had limited minutes and no Premier League goal. Asked about watching from the sidelines, he did not pretend otherwise.
“Of course it’s frustrating, no matter where it is.”
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That frustration now meets a different picture. Havertz went off with a suspected hamstring in Germany’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and is back at London Colney for further scans. The Times has floated a four-week absence. Arsenal have not confirmed that.
Fabrizio Romano said this week that Arsenal shut the door on Spanish clubs last summer and that 2027 would be “another story” if a rich bid arrived. Gyokeres’s own line is clearer than that. He had a full pre-season. He stayed. He is comfortable.
His deal runs to 2030 after a move from Sporting CP that could reach about £64million. He scored 21 goals in 55 games last season. Julian Alvarez was the name floated as a possible swap. Alvarez is still at Atletico. Gyokeres is still at Arsenal.
Sweden have Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina left in this window. Leeds at home on 10 October is the club date. If Havertz is not ready, the “given” becomes a start.
The quotes do not end the debate about his league form. They end the idea that he spent the summer looking for a way out. He says he did not. The next test is whether the Romania finish, and Havertz’s scan, put him back where he wants to be.
Carlos Cuesta
Carlos Cuesta
Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori
Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori