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  "path": "/2026/06/16/arsenals-viktor-gyokeres-fires-back-criticism-sweden-win-28801190/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-16T14:59:14.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Sweden",
    "Viktor Gyokeres",
    "World Cup",
    "Graham Potter",
    "Nations League",
    "Alexander Isak",
    "Sign up here",
    "Arsenal",
    "Liverpool",
    "FIFAWorldCup",
    "pic.twitter.com/0bqgDk8gMZ",
    "June 15, 2026",
    "talked up Gyokeres’ potential for a big World Cup ahead of the Tunisia clash.",
    "After the big win in Mexico, the former Chelsea boss said",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source",
    "@itvfootball"
  ],
  "textContent": "Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres got on the scoresheet against Tunisia (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nViktor Gyokeres was surprised to hear criticism of him in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia at the World Cup, defending his performance in the dominant victory.\n\nGraham Potter’s side had a nightmare qualification process, failing to win a game in their group, but have made it to the World Cup thanks to a Nations League play-off.\n\nTheir struggles appeared to be behind them in their opener in Monterrey as they walloped Tunisia and got off to a dream start in their Group F campaign.\n\nTougher tests are to come against Netherlands and Japan but confidence is high after goals from Yasin Ayarai (2), Alexander Isak, Gyokeres and Mattias Svanberg.\n\n##  Don't miss anything from the World Cup\n\nCrunch time beckons for Thomas Tuchel (Picture: FA via Getty Images)\n\n\nWe've got the latest from the England camp, previews of the biggest games and everything you missed overnight in our daily World Cup newsletter.\n\nSign up here.\n\nThe opening victory could scarcely have gone much better, but former Sweden midfielder turned pundit, Martin Aslund, had some criticism for Arsenal’s centre-forward during the game.\n\nAslund posted on X after an attack came to nothing: ‘What the hell, Gyokeres. He’s gotta release the ball quicker.\n\n‘Sure, he often has a less than great first touch that means he needs more time, but he should still be able to let it go faster in a few of those situations. Isak should’ve had a breakaway there.’\n\nGyokeres has scored 21 goals in 34 Sweden caps (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nThe comment was put to Gyokeres after the match and he said, via Sportbladet: ‘I got one assist and could have got two more. I don’t know how many assists you should get in a game.’\n\nSweden have a dangerous front two in Gyokeres and Isak, with Potter putting a formation together to play both centre-forwards.\n\nThe Arsenal and Liverpool superstars assisted each other against Tunisia and Gyokeres is happy to talk up the partnership.\n\n‘It was good as usual,’ he said. ‘As I said earlier, we have had good cooperation before and we have good again.’\n\n> Viktor Gyokeres gets his Sweden account underway at the #FIFAWorldCup 💫 pic.twitter.com/0bqgDk8gMZ\n>\n> — ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026\n\nPotter, who took charge of the struggling Sweden side in October, talked up Gyokeres’ potential for a big World Cup ahead of the Tunisia clash.\n\n‘He’s obviously had a fantastic season,’ Potter said of Gyokeres’ 21-goal campaign for Arsenal.\n\n‘We want to use him to his best, try and get the most out of him. Because if we do, then he gives us a chance to win football matches. That’s for sure.’\n\nGraham Potter had a dream World Cup debut (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nAfter the big win in Mexico, the former Chelsea boss said: ‘I think it was a fantastic evening for us, a fantastic start. A solid performance that allowed Alex and Viktor to show their qualities, which they did. We were defensively solid, got goals from midfield and had good substitutions.\n\n‘I’m happy for the players. They’ve worked hard in recent weeks and made strides. All credit to them. As a coach you know when the team is developing, but you also have to win. We weren’t perfect, but we knew we wouldn’t be.\n\n‘I was a little disappointed with the goal we conceded, but that’s what can happen. We were mature in the second half, especially considering we lack experience from the World Cup.’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres fires back at criticism of him in Sweden win"
}