Viktor Gyökeres Demands More Playing Time at Arsenal North London 2026

Key Points

• Viktor Gyökeres has voiced his frustration regarding a significant drop in first-team opportunities at Arsenal, stating that he “expects more playing time”.
• The Swedish forward has played just 29 minutes across the Premier League this season, having fallen behind Kai Havertz in manager Mikel Arteta’s forward hierarchy.
• Despite being Arsenal’s joint-top scorer last campaign with 21 goals in all competitions, Gyökeres has struggled to make an impact in his limited outings, failing to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
• Starts against SSC Napoli in the UEFA Champions League and Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup yielded underwhelming displays, drawing sharp criticism from media outlets.
• International teammate Viktor Johansson has publicly defended Gyökeres, dismissing the intense media scrutiny as unfair and disproportionate.
• Media reports indicate that the striker’s market valuation has begun to decrease amid ongoing transfer speculation and limited match action.

Arsenal FC (North London News) September 26, 2026 – Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres has admitted to feeling frustrated over his reduced role at the North London club, declaring that he expects to see more action on the pitch following a challenging start to the current campaign.

Why Has Viktor Gyökeres Struggled for Minutes at Emirates Stadium This Season?

As reported by Football.London reporter Tom Canton, the 28-year-old Swedish international has found himself firmly relegated to second-choice status behind German international Kai Havertz in Mikel Arteta’s tactical set-up. Having featured for just 29 minutes in the Premier League this season—including brief appearances off the bench against Manchester City and Chelsea, alongside remaining an unused substitute in multiple fixtures—Gyökeres has struggled to build momentum.

Writing for GiveMeSport, journalist Amos Murphy noted that Arsenal’s preferred tactical shape relies heavily on Havertz’s capacity to drop deep, link play, and integrate wide attackers such as Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze. In contrast, Gyökeres excels primarily in transition when exploiting space behind opposition defensive lines—a scenario rarely afforded to Arsenal, given that domestic and European opponents frequently deploy low defensive blocks against them.

After arriving as a marquee summer signing from Sporting CP in July 2025, Gyökeres completed his debut campaign as Arsenal’s top goalscorer with 21 goals across all competitions, aiding the Gunners in securing the Premier League title. However, his standing within the squad waned toward the tail-end of last season, culminating in Havertz being selected ahead of him for major fixtures, including the UEFA Champions League final.

How Have the Italian Media and Domestic Press Evaluated His Recent Performances?

When handed opportunities to lead the line in cup competitions, Gyökeres has struggled to capture his top form. During Arsenal’s 1–0 UEFA Champions League group-stage victory away to SSC Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the forward started the match but was substituted in the 73rd minute for Kai Havertz without recording a shot on target.

As highlighted by Football.London, Italian sports dailies delivered harsh post-match player ratings, labeling Gyökeres as Arsenal’s most disappointing performer on the night. His subsequent start against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup similarly failed to silence critics, as he struggled to influence proceedings before again being replaced.

As reported by Football365 sports writer James Cormack, the striker appeared isolated at Portman Road and in Naples, with most of his combinations failing to yield productive outcomes for the visitors.

What Has Been Said in Defence of the Swedish Forward?

In response to the growing external criticism, international colleague and Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson publicly defended Gyökeres during the international break.

As reported by Football.London, Johansson stated that the media scrutiny surrounding the forward was excessively harsh and failed to account for his proven goalscoring record. Johansson also detailed a personal gesture by Gyökeres—who quietly funded community initiatives and equipment for local youth academies—to illustrate his teammate’s strong work ethic and character away from the spotlight.

Furthermore, manager Mikel Arteta publicly dismissed suggestions of any deep-seated rift between the player and the coaching staff, maintaining that team selection remains purely performance-based and that tactical adjustments over a dense fixture list will inevitably provide opportunities for rotation.

What Is the Background to Viktor Gyökeres’ Transfer and Recent Developments?

Viktor Gyökeres built an outstanding reputation as one of Europe’s most prolific center-forwards during his tenure in Portugal with Sporting CP, following an impressive development period at Coventry City. His prolific output in Primeira Liga prompted Arsenal to commit a substantial transfer fee in the summer window of 2025 to secure his signature, aiming to add a direct, physical dimension to their attacking unit.

During his inaugural season at Emirates Stadium (2025–26), Gyökeres registered 14 Premier League goals and 21 overall, sharing top-scorer honors for the club. Despite these numbers, questions lingered among tactical analysts regarding his integration into Arteta’s possession-heavy positional play. As Kai Havertz demonstrated greater fluidity and pressing efficiency in the center-forward position, Gyökeres gradually saw his starting berth given to the German towards the climax of the season.

The trend has accelerated in the early stages of the 2026–27 season. With Arsenal continuing to rely on Havertz’s tactical versatility, Gyökeres has been restricted primarily to minor substitute appearances in domestic league fixtures and select cup starts, triggering widespread media commentary regarding his long-term suitability in North London.

What Is the Prediction for How This Development Will Affect Arsenal and the Player?

As reported by Martin Admin for JustArsenal, the forward’s current situation carries tangible implications for both the football club and the player’s immediate future.

From the perspective of Arsenal FC and its fanbase, maintaining a unhappy high-profile striker on the bench risks generating unnecessary off-pitch distraction during a competitive title defence. Furthermore, sports business analysts note that Gyökeres’ market valuation risks a decline if he remains restricted to sporadic minutes, potentially limiting the club’s financial return should they decide to sanction a transfer in upcoming windows to reallocate funds toward alternative tactical profiles.

For Viktor Gyökeres and the Swedish National Team, prolonged bench duty poses a threat to his match sharpness, confidence, and international standings. If Kai Havertz maintains form and fitness, Gyökeres may be forced to evaluate his long-term future ahead of the 2027 transfer windows to secure regular first-team football, unless he can successfully adapt his skill set to match Mikel Arteta’s demanding tactical system during upcoming cup and European rotations.