Viktor Gyokeres is hoping a spell on international duty with Sweden can reignite his form after a difficult opening stretch of the season with Arsenal. The Swedish striker has struggled to make an impact in recent matches, most notably in the Gunners' clash with Ipswich, where a lapse in judgement summed up his laboured display.
With several Arsenal teammates free and calling for the ball inside the box, Gyokeres opted to attempt a pass in behind the Ipswich defence that sailed harmlessly out of play, prompting visible frustration from Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman. It was a minor error in isolation, but one that reflected a broader pattern of a player struggling to assert himself.
Beyond the misplaced pass, Gyokeres managed just one shot and lost three of his four duels against Ipswich. More troubling than the statistics themselves was the apparent lack of urgency in his play. He has been notably passive for a striker of his pedigree, often waiting for the ball to find him rather than actively creating space or opportunities inside the box.
The numbers paint a stark picture of his declining influence. Last season, Gyokeres netted 14 league goals, though 11 came against teams in the bottom half of the table — precisely the type of opposition Ipswich represented on paper. Yet even in a fixture that should have suited him, he failed to make a mark.
His lack of involvement extends beyond the penalty area. In Arsenal's Champions League trip to Napoli, Gyokeres touched the ball inside the opposition box just three times — fewer than six of his teammates and only matching centre-back Ezri Konsa. Against Ipswich, he registered only two touches in the box, well behind Madueke's nine and Mikel Merino's five. Even substitute Christos Tzolis, who entered in the 76th minute, matched his tally.
Across the two fixtures, in which Arsenal totalled 37 shots, Gyokeres was responsible for just one — a tepid effort straight at the goalkeeper. He has also shown a tendency to go down easily under minimal physical contact, a departure from the tenacity he displayed last season even during goal droughts.
Manager Mikel Arteta has previously praised Gyokeres' mental toughness and ability to bounce back from poor performances, but there's little evidence of that resilience surfacing currently. Whether the issue stems from confidence, being overtaken by Kai Havertz in the pecking order, lingering effects of summer transfer speculation, or a mix of factors, a shift appears necessary.
The timing of the international break could prove beneficial. Gyokeres will link up with Sweden for an extended three-week period under Graham Potter, featuring matches against Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and two fixtures versus Romania in the Nations League. It was during a similar stretch in March, when Gyokeres scored four goals in two games to help secure Sweden's World Cup qualification, that he returned to Arsenal revitalised.
"He was buzzing," Arteta said following that international break. "He was full of energy and confidence and that's great." That renewed sharpness translated into his best Arsenal form, including a brace against Fulham and a standout all-around display against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.
Potter acknowledged the challenges facing his star forward. "It's part of the life of a footballer. Things can come at you fairly quickly and often you just have to deal with it," he said. "We know how good Viktor is, we know how important he is. We love him with the team and I think he has the same feeling. Sometimes a change of context, a change of environment can help a player. We're all looking forward to having Viktor with us and helping him enjoy his football."
For now, Gyokeres' main function at Arsenal has been to provide rest for Havertz, who has led the line effectively in his absence from top form. Whether this international window can restore his confidence and sharpness may determine if the competition for Arsenal's central striking role becomes genuinely contested once again.
Based on reporting from Standard (football).