Viktor Gyökeres has echoed teammate Martín Zubimendi in affirming his commitment to Arsenal, despite managing just one Premier League start this season. The Swedish striker was among the substitutes in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Hull City, even after scoring a goal and providing an assist against Slavia Prague in midweek European action.
Asked about his future at the club, the 28-year-old told Fotbollskanalen and TV4, via football.london: "I want to! It feels good when I've played. We've won most of the games. It was a tough loss in the cup [Fleetwood Town]. Otherwise it's felt good for myself and the team. I've been doing well lately when I've been playing. Right now it feels good."
He also addressed his relationship with manager Mikel Arteta, saying: "The communication with Arteta is good. We talk about football and how we should play. Before a match, if I'm going to start, we talk about the opponents and what I should think about."
Gyökeres has scored 10 goals in 11 appearances under Sweden boss Graham Potter and found the net in all four of Sweden's UEFA Nations League fixtures during the most recent international break. Back at Arsenal, however, he was again benched against Leeds United after Kai Havertz made a swift recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered on international duty with Germany. Havertz had scored the equalizer in Arsenal's Carabao Cup fourth-round exit at Fleetwood Town, his first club goal of the campaign.
Following that cup defeat, CBS Sports analyst Troy Deeney suggested Gyökeres should be "offended" that Arteta picked him to start amid heavy squad rotation, adding: "The problem he's had, in all seriousness, is a difficult summer; every time they were linked with Julián Álvarez or any other player, he was part of the deal to go." Fellow pundit Nigel Reo-Coker also suggested Arteta lacks confidence in the striker for "big matches."
Gyökeres said he tries not to let such commentary affect him: "Sometimes it might get to me, but overall not so much. If I score goals and assists in the Champions League, I couldn't care less what they say. It's nice to do those kinds of performances. To deliver for myself and for the team. That's where the focus lies. It's natural too. It's what gets the most headlines and what sticks the most when people listen. I understand that's how it is."
Potter said he isn't concerned by his forward's reduced club minutes, telling The Independent: "It doesn't really matter, is the truth, because he's done brilliant for us when he's been playing every week for Arsenal and he's done brilliant for us when he hasn't been playing every week. Whatever he does in his club, that's part of the thing that you can't control. You just have to accept that, and then you just make sure that from a loading perspective, when he comes in you're careful with him. But he's such a professional, fit guy that loves playing football for Sweden."
Zubimendi dismisses Atlético Madrid talk
Elsewhere, Martín Zubimendi has dismissed speculation linking him with a January move to Atlético Madrid, saying he intends to stay at Arsenal through the rest of the season. Asked if that was his plan, he said: "I hope so. I'm happy there. I'm happy in London." Chelsea are also reported to be monitoring the Spanish midfielder.
The comments come two days after Spain's Radio Nacional reported that Zubimendi could leave Arsenal in the near future, with Atlético Madrid among the interested clubs, amid claims that Arsenal need to sell players to balance their finances and that his playing time had been reduced following Bruno Guimarães's arrival.
