Arsenal player’s international boss says he has received ‘way too much criticism’ this season

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Graham Potter has hit back at critics of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sweden manager insists Gyokeres has been treated unfairly during what has been a landmark debut season in north London.

Speaking to Sweden Herald ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final in Budapest, Potter stood firm in defence of his player.

“I find it fascinating, but it’s part of our world these days. The way I see it, he’s gotten way too much criticism,” Potter said.

“He’s adapted to a new team in a new country in a new league and a different way of playing.

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“Even though they won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final and he’s scored a lot of goals, he’s got to take criticism.

“That’s the way it is. There’s nothing you can do about it. I think he’s handled it incredibly well.”

It is a view that Wayne Rooney has echoed throughout the season, consistently backing Gyokeres at a time when the debate has sparked around his suitability for Mikel Arteta’s system.

And the numbers are hard to argue with. Gyokeres is Arsenal’s top scorer by a distance this season with 21 goals across all competitions, making him the first Arsenal player to reach that tally in a debut season since Alexis Sanchez.

Potter makes a good point about how quickly Gyokeres has adapted too.

Moving to a new league and a new way of playing is never straightforward, and the Swede has done so while contributing to a Premier League title and a Champions League final.

Viktor Gyokeres or Kai Havertz — Mikel Arteta’s biggest selection call ahead of the PSG final

Arteta has a tricky dilemma in Budapest.

Kai Havertz has been here before — he scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final while at Chelsea, making him the only player in Arsenal’s squad with that experience.

Gyokeres is the top scorer and will give Arsenal more direct threat running in behind. But Havertz has the pedigree, and is probably the smarter option if Arteta wants to have more control on the game.

It is arguably the most difficult selection call the Arsenal manager will make on Saturday. Fans will have their opinions but whichever way he goes, it will be difficult to argue against.

As for Gyokeres personally, he has the chance to become the first Swede since Henrik Larsson in 2006 to win the Champions League.