Gyökeres rejects Arsenal exit talk as he admits frustration over playing time
The Sweden striker says staying at Arsenal was a given, even as a reduced role leaves him frustrated.
Viktor Gyökeres has said he never considered leaving Arsenal in the summer, despite admitting that his limited playing time is frustrating.
The Sweden striker has slipped behind Kai Havertz in Mikel Arteta’s attacking plans. He has made two Premier League appearances from the bench this season, while his starts have come in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, according to football.london.
Speaking to Swedish broadcaster SVT Sport, Gyökeres acknowledged that any player wants to be on the pitch, contribute and score. He said he tries to make the most of the chances he receives and concentrate on what he can control.
Staying at Arsenal was his decision
Summer reports linked the 28-year-old with a move away after just one season in north London. Gyökeres told SVT that he had a full pre-season, felt good and remained focused on Arsenal. Asked about staying, his answer was direct: “For me, it was a given.” He added that he feels extremely comfortable at the club.
That makes his position clearer than the transfer speculation suggested. He wants more minutes, but he has not said he wants to leave. Those are different questions as Arsenal juggle two established options at centre-forward.
Gyökeres scored 21 goals in all competitions in his first Arsenal season, including 14 in the Premier League, as the club won the title. A reduced role early in the new campaign now leaves him with a challenge: turn his next opportunities into a case for a regular starting place.
Havertz has withdrawn from Germany duty with a muscle injury, football.london reports. That could alter Arteta’s immediate selection options when club football resumes, though Arsenal have not established how long the German will be out. For Gyökeres, the message from his interview is consistent: he is frustrated by the lack of game time and intends to compete for it at Arsenal.
More on DSN: Gabriel Martinelli’s Arsenal Exit Raises Questions After Arteta Snub, Bosnia v Sweden preview: Potter’s leaders hit by illness and injury before Zenica top-of-table clash and The false nine: how a roaming centre-forward changed attacking football.
Our sister site DGBN has also covered Gyökeres reflecting on his impact at Arsenal last season.
