SWEDEN manager Graham Potter won’t be asking Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to manage Viktor Gyokeres’ minutes.
Potter has claimed Arteta “won’t be interested” in what he has to say about Gyokeres’ fitness levels ahead of a huge World Cup qualification game for Sweden.
The Swedish national team face Ukraine next month in a World Cup qualification play-off semi-final.
The winner of that game will face either Poland or Albania in the final to earn a place at this summer’s World Cup in North America.
But even with such a huge game on the horizon, Graham Potter isn’t going to ask Arteta to rest his star striker.
Speaking to Sportbladet, Potter said: “I don’t think he [Arteta] will be particularly interested in what I have to say, if I am honest.
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“And I don’t blame him. I think he has a lot to think about.”
Gyokeres has hit form since the turn of the year, scoring eight goals in his last 12 games for Arsenal.
In fact, the forward has now scored more goals in 2026 than any other Premier League player and has taken his total tally for the season to 15.
His brilliant double in Sunday’s North London derby certainly caught the eye, but Sweden manager Potter was not surprised to see Gyokeres performing at such a high level.
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He added: “It was very good for him. I think it highlights his character and personality.
“From my perspective, there is no doubt about Viktor. He is a top player, a top person.
“I think he has contributed to where Arsenal are as a team in all four competitions, but every player sometimes goes through a period where they receive a bit of criticism. That is part of the job.”
Sweden will be without Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski for their clash against Ukraine, putting even more pressure on Gyokeres to perform.
Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from Sporting in the summer in a deal worth an initial £54.8m, received high praise from Arteta after scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-1 thrashing of Spurs at the weekend.
The Arsenal manager said: “I think this was his best performance.
“I think his overall play was incredible, the efficiency, the goals that he scored. He was really, really good today.”
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