Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has leapt to the defence of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres following questions about his impact in matches for Mikel Arteta's side.
Since his reported £63.5m (€73.5m) switch from Sporting CP over the summer, Gyokeres has scored three goals in 10 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners.
However, since netting in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last month, as he became the third Arsenal player to score in both of his two Premier League home games, Gyokeres has failed to net in his last six games in all competitions.
Of players to attempt 15 or more shots in the top-flight in 2025, Gyokeres' expected goals (xG) total of 3.1 is a total only bettered by Manchester City's Erling Haaland (7.8) and Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo (3.6), proving he is getting the chances to score.
And though only Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago (both four), Semenyo (six) and Haaland (nine) have scored more goals than the Swede in the Premier League this term, some onlookers have questioned if he is having a negative impact on the Arsenal team.
But there is no denying his quality in front of goal.
Indeed, Gyokeres' 39 goals in the 2024-25 season were more than any other player across Europe's top 10 leagues, and eight better than second-best Kylian Mbappe.
And ahead of Sweden's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo, Tomasson delivered a passionate defence of Gyokeres.
"Gyokeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good," Tomasson told reporters.
"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."
Sweden are third in their Group B, having taken just one point from their opening two fixtures against Slovenia and Kosovo.
vuaabdipu
0
Just qualify for the World Cup first You are about to lose your job
wikinprs
2
the boy is good as one of the best striker in the world
heabdeimoy
4
Please I just want to appreciate everybody's concern but for sure we the Arsenal fans are fine with what Gyokeres is doing at the moment and for none Arsenal fans for your information whatever he does is okay for us.
BiIIyDedon
0
as honest barca fan, even a broken cond0m is more useful than gyokeres
Dazablmpu
1
A very effective player
SGTSingam
1
even my grandma understands football !
Ubong12
5
Exactly, those fools don't know football, and i'm sure they're not the real fans of the club, they are Sesko-fans group i guess, As for me and every good Arsenal fan all over the world, Gyokeres has been magnificent to us and even players can testify, i can only implore the manager to try play more direct when we play smaller clubs and then play his conservative football when we play bigger teams, and meanwhile, Gyokeres should maintain composure when in opposition's halves, The Goals will come, for sure
voddeprt
5
that guy is good, and he's going to give us more goals, if not this season, than next season. I trust the process. he's really really good I mean it
resabekpst
5
The goals will come, he has to adjust to our system, and the players to his. His work rate and running off the ball are outstanding. Let’s be patient.!!!!