Gyokeres in Good Form Despite Scoring Drought at Arsenal
Swedish Coach Defends Arsenal Striker Viktor Gyokeres’s Performance
Swedish national team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson has come to the defense of Viktor Gyokeres, dismissing concerns about his recent goal drought and perceived lack of influence at Arsenal.
Gyokeres, 27, joined Arsenal this summer from Sporting CP for around £64 million. After a promising start—scoring three times in his opening four appearances—he has failed to find the net in his last six matches across all competitions, only missing one game since then.
Some critics have questioned whether Gyokeres’s absence of goals negatively affects the team, but Tomasson asserts that such opinions demonstrate a lack of understanding of football. He praised Gyokeres’s overall contribution, stating:
“Viktor Gyokeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good. He creates space for others, works hard with the ball, and makes runs. He scores goals almost all the time, so he has a real impact and has been very effective. It’s important to give players time when they join a new club.”
Gyokeres has been a consistent starter for Arsenal this season, only benched for a single brief appearance in the Carabao Cup. Despite the concern over his goal drought, manager Mikel Arteta remains confident, emphasizing Gyokeres’s improving performances.
After Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Olympiacos, Arteta highlighted Gyokeres’s efforts, saying: “He was denied a few times with blocks and hit the post, but his overall performance was exceptional. His work rate is excellent, and he helps the team a lot—even if he’s not scoring right now.”
In international duties, Gyokeres is expected to form a formidable forward duo with Alexander Isak during Sweden’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo. Coach Tomasson has dismissed doubts about their pairing, confidently stating:
“Great players can always play together. It’s my job to create the right environment for them to perform. They’ve been excellent so far, with great personalities and a real drive for goals.”