Viktor Gyokeres is back at Arsenal ‘feeling good’ after another prolific international break for Sweden, capped by a record-extending goal in Bucharest.
A confident Viktor Gyokeres will return to Arsenal after scoring four times for Sweden during the international break, extending his record Nations League scoring run to seven successive matches, and closing in on his country’s all-time greatest scorers’ list.
The 28-year-old struck the winner as Sweden beat Romania 1-0 in Bucharest on Monday night, taking his international record to 25 goals in 41 appearances.
Gyokeres scored in every fixture during the extended break, finding the net in wins over Romania and Poland in Stockholm, the 1-1 draw away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and again in Bucharest as Sweden strengthened their position at the top of Group B4.
“That (his goals for Sweden) means we win three games and draw one. It is a good start to the Nations League this year and for me it feels very good,” Gyokeres told reporters, as quoted by SVT Sport.
“They (Romania) had the ball a bit too much and we made it difficult for ourselves at times, but we won the match and keep a clean sheet, so after the match it is a nice feeling.”
His latest goal was one of the simpler finishes of his international career.
Lucas Bergvall won possession before finding Alexander Bernhardsson, whose cross was hit against the post by Sebastian Nanasi, leaving Gyokeres to finish into an open goal from close range.
The strike extended his Nations League record to seven consecutive scoring appearances.
Sweden face Bosnia and Herzegovina again on November 14 before completing the group stage away to Poland three days later, giving Gyokeres the chance to extend that sequence further.
His 25 international goals also leave him closing in on Sweden’s all-time top 10 goalscorer’s list.
Tomas Brolin and Agne Simonsson share 10th place on 27, two ahead of the Arsenal striker.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds Sweden’s record with 62 goals from 122 caps, an average of 0.51 goals per game followed by Sven Rydell with 49 in 43 (1.44) and Gunnar Nordahl with 43 in 33 (1.3).
Gyokeres currently averages 0.61 goals per international appearance.
The striker has only made two substitute appearances for Arsenal in the Premier League this season, but his form for Sweden provides an obvious boost before domestic football resumes against Leeds United on Saturday, especially with Kai Havertz sidelined once again with injury.
The break has provided exactly what Mikel Arteta would have wanted. Four matches, four goals, 344 minutes of 360 played, a new Nations League record and another step towards Sweden’s all-time scoring elite.
Gyokres has three goals in two games against Leeds.
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