Ex-Chelsea boss praises Arsenal striker ahead of derby clash | OneFootball

Sweden boss Graham Potter has praised Viktor Gyokeres, before admitting he doesn’t have much say in how many minutes the striker plays for Arsenal.

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Speaking to Sportbladet following Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, former Chelsea manager and current Sweden boss Graham Potter had plenty of praise for Viktor Gyokeres.

“It was very good for him,” Potter said of Gyokeres’ north London derby brace. “I think it highlights his character and personality. From my perspective, there is no doubt about Viktor. He is a top player, a top person.

“I think he has contributed to where Arsenal are as a team in all four competitions, but every player sometimes goes through a period where they get a little criticism. It’s part of the job.”

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One thing Potter might not be quite so happy about is the fact Gyokeres has played so many minutes this season, with the striker making 36 appearances in all competitions so far despite missing most of November with a muscle problem.

When asked if he had a message for Mikel Arteta about that, Potter insisted it’s out of his hands.

“I don’t think he will be particularly interested in what I have to say, to be honest and I don’t blame him,” Potter said. “I think he has a lot to think about.”

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Gyokeres is in great form at the moment, with 10 goals and assists in his last 12 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions. That’s obviously the big positive for Potter right now, as he’ll need the striker fit and firing for their World Cup qualifiers in March.

The 27-year-old missed out on Sweden’s last couple of game in November, meaning he’s still yet to play under Potter. His first opportunity will be the World Cup qualification semi-final against Ukraine on March 26th.

If Sweden can see off Ukraine, they’ll face either Poland or Albania in a single-leg final on March 31st to qualify for the final tournament this summer.