The goal for the national team was a nice relief for Viktor Gyökeres after a difficult start to the season at Arsenal.
After a phenomenal season last year, when he became the Premier League club's top scorer, the start of the new autumn has been considerably harder for Gyökeres, with competitor Kai Havertz often preferred from the start.
You always want to be on the field as a football player, that's just how it is, says Gyökeres about the situation.
“I felt completely okay”
The national team meeting was therefore a welcome break for the striker, who immediately got on the scoresheet for Sweden. His first goal of this competitive season.
"No matter what, it's always fun to be here and it's always fun to play with the national team. You enjoy it, and so it's nice to win," says Gyökeres.
Although the Swede was Arsenal's top scorer last season, manager Mikel Arteta has opted to keep him out of the starting eleven at the start of the season. Gyökeres makes no secret of the challenge of sitting on the sidelines.
"I haven't played a lot, but I've had a few games. It felt okay then, but it's clear that you want to play football and you want to play as much as possible. If I focus, that will come too," he says.
“I want to do it”
When asked what message Arteta has given and what is required to regain a permanent starting spot, he answers bluntly:
I obviously need to do better, and yes, I want to do it, so that's no problem.
The lack of playing time and goals for the club team has quickly led to raised voices in the British media, where criticism has not been long in coming. However, the Swede is trying to keep his distance from the headlines.
It depends. If it comes a lot and you read it, of course you can be influenced, but that's not something I do. As I said, if you do well you get praise, if you don't score goals as a striker and don't perform as they expect, of course there will be criticism. There are always ups and downs for all footballers, so it's normal, says Gyökeres.
