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Viktor Gyökeres is unhappy with how his time at Arsenal has unfolded, finding himself on the sidelines whenever Mikel Arteta fields his first-choice lineup.
This was a recurring pattern last season — when Kai Havertz was fit and available, Arteta consistently opted for the German ahead of Gyökeres, despite the Swede's $84.2 million (£63.5 million) transfer fee and his credentials as a natural striker with an outstanding scoring record at his previous club.
The trend has carried over into 2026–27, with the Swedish forward featuring for just 19 minutes out of a possible 450 in the Premier League. He has managed one start apiece in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Having clocked only 207 minutes across six weeks of the campaign, he is yet to find the net for Arsenal this term. Gyökeres did at least get a starting berth as Sweden defeated Romania in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, netting the decisive goal alongside Alexander Isak.
"I haven't had much game time, but I've had a few opportunities. It has felt alright, but it's obvious that I want to play football — and as much as I can. Hopefully that will come. As a footballer, you always want to be out on the pitch," the forward told the media after the Romania fixture.
"Of course you expect more minutes, but we have an incredibly strong squad full of quality players and things have been going well so far," he added, pointing to Arsenal's near-perfect early-season form. "I'm just trying to focus on what's within my control and do everything I can to earn more playing time."
Gyökeres acknowledged that he needs to "do better" and is "willing" to put in the extra effort to make that happen. He also confirmed that his dialogue with Arteta on the matter remains "good."
Latest Havertz Injury Opens Door for Gyokeres
Gyökeres split opinion during his debut season. He arrived from Sporting CP having scored 54 goals in 52 appearances — 97 in 102 across his two seasons in Lisbon. He then managed 21 goals in 55 Arsenal appearances, which looks respectable on paper.
He made 37 starts across the Premier League and Champions League, largely due to Havertz's extended injury absence. However, Gyökeres scored only three times against Premier League top-10 sides and failed to score against any of the top five. He also managed just one goal during the Champions League knockout rounds.
Arteta's clear preference for Havertz was evident when the German was selected as the No. 9 for a high-stakes clash against Manchester City in April.
However, Gyökeres may be set for increased involvement. Havertz picked up a hamstring sprain during Germany's 1–1 draw with the Netherlands on Thursday and has been withdrawn from international duty to be evaluated by Arsenal's medical team.
There is no indication yet that Havertz faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines, but Gyökeres must ensure he capitalizes on any opportunity that presents itself.