Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres netted the winner for Sweden on Monday evening as they recorded a 1-0 Nations League win over Romania in Bucharest and he now returns to north London in pulsating goalscoring form
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after scoring against Romania
Viktor Gyokeres is returning to Arsenal full of confidence following his international exploits with Sweden
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There is just something about international breaks that seems to ignite the fire within the belly of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres. Back in March, the 28-year-old carried the weight of a hopeful nation on his shoulders during Sweden's last chance saloon.
He stepped up to the plate admirably and struck four goals, including a hat-trick to down Ukraine, during the World Cup play-offs to fire Graham Potter's men to North America.
It's precisely why Mikel Arteta indicated before the shock 3-0 defeat to Brighton that a change of environment might just do out-of-favour Gyokeres the world of good.
The Spaniard stated: "He scored a few goals [last time]. That’s what a striker needs, they need minutes and goals to boost their energy."
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While it's been a disastrous break for the Premier League champions in some respects - Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis both picked up hamstring issues with Germany and Greece, respectively - Gyokeres returns to the capital in blistering form, full of confidence.
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After Liverpool striker Alexander Isak was forced to withdraw from international duty after suffering a thigh problem against Romania, Gyokeres seemingly relished the extra sense of responsibility.
He scored in all four of Sweden's matches, catapulting them to the top of Nations League Group B4 and in doing so, he also became the first player in competition history to net in seven consecutive games. It's quite the record and remarkably, three of his four latest strikes came from inside the six-yard box.
Arsenal will need those predatory instincts over the coming weeks with games coming thick and fast as it already feels as if they are just a few injuries away from being incredibly light on the ground in attack.
Gyokeres continues to divide opinion and while his long-term future with the Gunners feels somewhat inconclusive amid interest in Julian Alvarez and Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi, he was a signing for the here and now.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates
Arsenal frontman Viktor Gyokeres scored in each of Sweden's four Nations League matches
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With a tough test against Leeds United, an opponent he bagged three times against last season, on the horizon this Saturday lunchtime, there is no time like the present for the bullish centre-forward to finally make his mark upon the Gunners' season.
He may not boast the tactical intelligence and link-play that Havertz has within his repertoire but Gyokeres, who has yet to start in the top-flight this term, certainly knows how to occupy defenders.
Speaking after Sweden's 1-0 triumph over Romania in Bucharest, former Arsenal midfielder Kim Kallstrom paid tribute to his compatriot during a TV broadcast, explaining: "Viktor has an incredibly physical playing style and physical attributes that are probably very difficult for defenders to work against.
"It's always a physical battle up there, because his playing style is based a lot on that. So he's going to get beat up quite a bit, unfortunately."
Gyokeres sported blood-stained socks after the 3-1 victory over Poland and later claimed he slept on an ice pack instead of a pillow after sustaining an elbow to the head against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. Now he's ready to give his all for Arsenal at a time when Arteta arguably needs him more than ever.