Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has leapt to the defence of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres following questions about his impact in matches for Mikel Arteta's side. 

Since his reported £63.5m (€73.5m) switch from Sporting CP over the summer, Gyokeres has scored three goals in 10 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners. 

However, since netting in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last month, as he became the third Arsenal player to score in both of his two Premier League home games, Gyokeres has failed to net in his last six games in all competitions. 

Of players to attempt 15 or more shots in the top-flight in 2025, Gyokeres' expected goals (xG) total of 3.1 is a total only bettered by Manchester City's Erling Haaland (7.8) and Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo (3.6), proving he is getting the chances to score. 

And though only Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago (both four), Semenyo (six) and Haaland (nine) have scored more goals than the Swede in the Premier League this term, some onlookers have questioned if he is having a negative impact on the Arsenal team. 

But there is no denying his quality in front of goal.

Indeed, Gyokeres' 39 goals in the 2024-25 season were more than any other player across Europe's top 10 leagues, and eight better than second-best Kylian Mbappe. 

And ahead of Sweden's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo, Tomasson delivered a passionate defence of Gyokeres.

"Gyokeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good," Tomasson told reporters.

"If people say he doesn't have an impact [on matches], then they don't understand football and don't have a clue about football.

"He creates space for other players, works on the ball and makes runs. It's excellent, and he scores goals almost all the time, so he has an impact and has been very good.

"It's always nice, as you need time when you come to a new club."

Sweden are third in their Group B, having taken just one point from their opening two fixtures against Slovenia and Kosovo.