Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has defended Viktor Gyokeres’ early-season form, dismissing claims that the Arsenal striker is not making an impact in matches.
Gyokeres, 27, has made a slow start to life in north London, following his £64million move from Sporting CP during the summer.
After scoring three goals in his first four games for the club, the Swedish frontman has since blanked in front of goal in his last six games in all competitions – starting all but one of those matches.
Gyokeres’ lack of goals has led people to question whether he is having a negative effect on the Arsenal team.
But Tomasson has stood up for the forward, who has joined up with the Swedish national team this week, claiming that individuals who suggest that Gyokeres has not been impactful this season ‘don’t have a clue about football’.
‘Viktor Gyokeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good,’ Tomasson said at a press conference.
‘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.
‘It’s excellent and he scores goals almost all the time, so he has an impact and has been very good. It’s always nice, as you need time when you come to a new club.’
Gyokeres has started all but one game for Arsenal this season, only being benched for the Carabao Cup third round tie against Port Vale, in which he managed a 19-minute cameo.
And while there is concern among fans and media alike regarding the striker’s goal drought, Arteta, too, made it clear that he is not worried about his form.
‘What I sense is that he’s doing better and better things every game,’ Arteta said after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League last week.
‘He was denied a few times with blocks, and then he hit the post, but I think overall his performance was exceptional.
‘Again, his work was really good, and yeah, we want him to be scoring goals, but if he doesn’t do that, at least to do everything as he’s doing for the team, because he’s helping the team a lot.’
Gyokeres is likely to start alongside Liverpool striker Alexander Isak, forming a devastating forward duo, during Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo during the international break.
Many have questioned whether both can play together in a front two, given they are both extremely talented talisman. It’s been almost 12 months since we saw the pair start side-by-side in their national side.
But Tomasson has made it clear that it can easily be done, laughing off suggestions that he has to play one or the other.
‘When I started, there was a lot of noise about those two – “Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres cannot play together”,’ Tomasson told Sky Sports last month.
‘Of course they can! Great players can always play together. It’s my task as the coach to get the right scenery where they can perform and express themselves. And they’ve been great so far.
‘Great characters, great personalities, lovely boys to work with. And they like to score goals. They’re living for goals.’
