Gyökeres wants to stay at Arsenal despite limited playing time

Viktor Gyökeres says he wants to stay at Arsenal, despite limited Premier League playing time and questions over his future. A January exit is being discussed, although Gyökeres arrived at Arsenal from Sporting CP only last summer for £63.5 million. Mikel Arteta’s choices nevertheless leave him with a challenge as he seeks a bigger role in the team.

The competition is reflected in his starts: during the opening months of the campaign, Gyökeres started just one Premier League match, with Arteta regularly preferring Kai Havertz in attack. Asked whether he wanted to remain at Arsenal, the Sweden international gave a straightforward answer. He has also made clear that he is happy at the club and wants to keep fighting for his place under Arteta.

After a difficult spell in front of goal, Gyökeres has found the net again in recent weeks. He scored against Fleetwood Town in the League Cup in October, then in Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Slavia Prague. The improvement gives him a chance to strengthen his case for more regular involvement, while the demands of the season could bring further opportunities, with Arsenal competing in several competitions.

The forward summed up how he feels when he gets playing time: “It feels good when I’ve been playing. We’ve won most of our matches.” He also said his exchanges with Arteta were positive. “We talk about football and how we should play. Before a match, if I’m going to start, we talk about the opposition and what I should be thinking about,” he said. He added that he had done well recently when given the chance and that, right now, he felt good.

Gyökeres also played down the suggestion that his relationship with his manager had become strained, describing communication about tactics, opponents and what the coach expects when he is selected. He also put criticism into perspective: it can reach him at times, he said, but his focus is on performing for himself and the team.

The circumstances of his arrival also weigh on discussion around the forward: the former Sporting player has faced criticism from some media outlets and Arsenal supporters, particularly because of the transfer fee. Despite the competition and speculation, his message is clear: he is happy at Arsenal and intends to keep fighting for his place.