Gyokeres criticism ridiculed by Sweden manager | OneFootball

Viktor Gyökeres has found himself at the centre of an increasingly tedious, and predictable, narrative from sections of the British media determined to brand him a disappointment before his Arsenal career has even begun to settle.

Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images

Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has joined Mikel Arteta and Bukayo Saka in publicly defending Viktor Gyökeres, suggesting that those criticising him “don’t understand football”.

With three goals in 10 matches, the striker is currently Arsenal’s top scorer, yet that has not stopped commentators from questioning his impact.

The Times 29 September 2025

For the Swedish manager, that reaction says more about the pundits. “Viktor Gyökeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good,” Tomasson said.

“If people say he doesn’t have an impact (on matches), then they don’t understand football and don’t have a clue about football. He creates space for other players, works on the ball and makes runs.

“He’s excellent and he scores goals almost all the time, so he has an impact and has been very good…you need time when you come to a new club.”

Daily Mail back page, 7 August 2025

At Arsenal, Gyökeres has been thrown into a demanding role sooner than Arteta would have wanted, with Kai Havertz ruled out until November with a knee injury.

With both Noni Madueke and Ebere Eze still adapting to Mikel Arteta’s system and injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s early-season attacking rhythm is still a work in progress.

The Times front cover of The Game 22 September 2025

After the 2-0 win over West Ham, Arteta was quick to praise his new forward. “I just went there and hugged him and said ‘thank you’, because the work that he does is unbelievable for the team.

“The way he stretches the back four and the spaces he opens. I mean today how he hasn’t scored a goal, I don’t know!”

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Saka echoed his manager’s defence. “I think Viktor’s playing really, really well. There’s no doubt he’s going to score goals. What he’s bringing to this team, us as his team-mates, we’re so grateful for what he does – how he holds the ball, how he makes the runs, the threat he gives us.

“He’s a big part of the reason why we’re winning these games. His goals will come. We know that, we believe that and we believe in him. I don’t think there’s any doubts. He’s still up, he’s still happy and he’s still giving his best every game.”

Even Gary Lineker has felt the need to stick up for Gyökeres. “I think that, even though he’s not banged loads of goals in yet, Viktor Gyokeres gives them something different,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

The Telegraph 7 August 2025

“He gives them a threat behind, which creates more space for the midfield and even the wide players, and he’s aggressive with his running and he likes to spin and he attacks the space in the box.

“The goals will come for him because of the service that he will inevitably get, particularly now Bukayo Saka is back in the mix and looks like his old self after his injury.

“So I think it’s quite promising for Arsenal, I think we might be in for a really good title race this season.”

Daily Telegraph 7 October 2025

Gyökeres’s start to life in England is hardly out of step with how other top strikers have adapted to a new league, but the impatience of the commentary around him, and the eagerness of headline writers to question him after only a fistful of games, speaks to the scrutiny Arsenal players face.

The Swede, who has scored 15 goals in 28 appearances for his country, will look to add to that tally when Sweden face Switzerland on 10 October and Kosovo the following Monday in their World Cup qualifiers.