Viktor Gyokeres reminded Mikel Arteta of his quality on Monday night as he put in another fine performance for Sweden after Kai Havertz picked up a concerning injury.
The Arsenal striker has played only a bit-part role for his club in the early days of the new season, with Havertz preferred as a centre-forward. That has seen Gyokeres reduced to just two starts in the first seven matches of the campaign, in which time he has failed to score.
Arteta was left sweating, then, when he watched Havertz limp off during Germany’s Nations League meeting with the Netherlands after suffering a suspected hamstring injury. He subsequently departed the national team’s camp, only intensifying concerns surrounding his fitness.
While there is optimism his injury will not rule him out in the long term, Gyokeres is prepared to take his place up top for the Gunners, particularly after discovering fresh form with Graham Potter’s Sweden.
He started Monday night’s Nations League clash with Poland and came up with a fine poacher’s goal in the second half, poking home at the back post to extend Sweden’s lead to 3-1.
His goal capped an impressive performance, which earned him a standing ovation from the home faithful when he was substituted off in the 89th minute.
It comes just days after Gyokeres came off the bench to score what eventually proved the winner in a narrow defeat of Romania.
After a chastening start to the campaign, Gyokeres appears to be building in form and confidence as he prepares for what could be a vital period in his Arsenal career.
With Havertz sidelined, he has as good a chance as any to impress in the Premier League and remind Arteta of his worth, as reports linking him with an early exit from the Emirates continue to proliferate.
