Arsenal have an international break worry to keep an eye on, after Viktor Gyökeres sat out Sweden’s team training on Thursday and worked on his own instead.
Sweden are based in Valencia this week ahead of their Nations League game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday. According to Fotbollskanalen, three players missed the full-squad session, and the Arsenal striker was one of them.
The national team insist it is only a precaution, and the plan is for him to train with the group again on Friday. But the way Sweden’s press officer put it has left Arsenal fans with a question or two.
Why did Gyökeres train alone?
Press officer Petra Thorén explained the absences to the media in Valencia. “Three players will not take part in the team training. Dejan Kulusevski (who has just returned from injury) has his own programme linked to his training load. That was planned in advance,” she said.
“Benjamin Nygren and Viktor Gyökeres are also training individually. These are precautionary measures. The plan is for them to take part tomorrow.”
She did not say what the issue is. She did, though, hint that something had happened to Gyökeres and Nygren during the camp. “You take precautionary measures for a reason,” Thorén added.
Kulusevski’s case is different. The Tottenham winger is coming back from a long layoff, and he has said himself that he is not expected to start in this camp. The plan is to use him for around 30 minutes in both games.
What is at stake for Sweden?
Plenty. A win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday would seal top spot in the group and promotion to League A. Graham Potter’s side then travel to Poland on Tuesday, so losing their main striker for even one of those games would hurt.
Bad timing for Gyökeres and Arsenal
For the 28-year-old, the timing could hardly be worse. He began the Premier League season on the bench and has made only one league start so far, scoring in the 2-0 win over Everton.
He has played more often in the Champions League, and that is where things were turning. He set up a goal against Bayern, then scored one and made another in the 2-1 win over Slavia Prague, a night when Noni Madueke finally made it click on the right too.
It is only a few hours since Gyökeres made it clear he wants to stay at Arsenal and fight for his place rather than look for a way out in January. Picking up a knock now would be a blow to that push, just as he was starting to earn starts.
Should Arsenal be worried about Gyökeres?
Not yet. “Precautionary” usually means exactly that, and the stated plan is for him to be back with the group on Friday. If he trains fully then, this will be forgotten by the weekend.
But Arteta will want a clear answer before his players return. Arsenal have 19 internationals away this month, as our guide to where Arsenal’s internationals play shows, and the last thing they need is their Swedish striker coming back carrying something. Friday’s session is the one to watch.
