Viktor Gyokeres is winding up for a new test at the World Cup as Arsenal transfer links continue to swirl
Viktor Gyokeres is due to face his second World Cup test on Saturday as Sweden take on the Netherlands. He will not be up against his Arsenal teammate Jurrien Timber, however, who withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
Gyokeres has enjoyed bright start to the tournament by scoring and assisting in the 5-1 win over Tunisia. Alexander Isak pinched possession in the final third before finding the Gunners’ number 14, who smashed the ball in, characteristically making no mistake and producing his equally synonymous celebration.
Before that, he had found a lovely ball round the corner for Isak to run onto before finishing coolly. The Swede’s holdup play had been somewhat scrutinised early in his Arsenal career, but it developed considerably through the season, and it is therefore little surprise to see it on show this summer.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
He faces a double Tottenham blockade next, with Micky van de Ven and new signing Jan Paul van Hecke. The Swede scored twice at Spurs last season in the big 4-1 win, and he’ll hope he can replicate the scenes in Houston.
Kai Havertz has already begun the campaign in good form, too, scoring twice against Curacao. Arsenal forwards will be vying for a starting place next season, and despite links to Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, the two established players remain heavily in Mikel Arteta’s plans football.london understands.
There have, perhaps unsurprisingly, been some rather wild transfer speculations early on, with even swap deals to Atletico Madrid and Julian Alvarez coming the other way posited. For the moment, nothing has been understood to suggest this is accurate.
Alvarez was understood to be a player Arsenal and Andrea Berta have been keen on, but financially the deal appears near-impossible with the La Liga side already turning down a €150million (£130million) bid from Real Madrid.
The Argentine is not a priority for the club; however, with aforementioned Kroupi more versatile than Alvarez. Furthermore, the club have preferences for upgrading their left flank amid links to Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola and Christos Tzolis, with talks for youngster Jeremy Monga continuing and a second bid expected in due course.
For Gyokeres, the focus will be first on the World Cup, followed by a well-earned break and then a first near-full pre-season with Arsenal. He hopes to beat his 21-goal tally from the previous season, now fully integrated into his new club.
