Football Presse

Johansson backs Sweden teammate Gyökeres to come good amid Arsenal struggles

·By Paul Vegas
Share
Johansson backs Sweden teammate Gyökeres to come good amid Arsenal struggles

Arsenal/X.com

Sweden goalkeeper Viktor Johansson says Viktor Gyökeres will come good at Arsenal, despite the striker's playing time collapsing this season.

The Sweden striker has featured in only five games this season for Arsenal, with just two Premier League substitute appearances totalling 29 minutes, a sharp drop-off after scoring 21 goals in his debut campaign as the club won the Premier League.

Reports last week suggested AC Milan and Juventus were among the clubs showing interest in a player Mikel Arteta has dropped behind Kai Havertz in his pecking order, with Gyökeres under contract to Arsenal until the summer of 2030.

Sweden goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, speaking to Expressen, said he was not concerned about his international teammate's situation: "Sometimes it's best not to talk too much about it either.

"We all know what a fantastic footballer he is and everything will sort itself out."

Asked whether Gyökeres has faced unfair criticism, Johansson defended him on a personal level too.

"Yeah, well... it's obviously never fun to read that. Then again I'm not the best at reading what's written either. But I know he's a fantastic footballer and a fantastic person. And that's what I take with me."

Johansson, who plays his club football for Stoke City on a contract running to the summer of 2030, has known Gyökeres through the Sweden national team setup for several years.