Sweden will be putting full trust in Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Over the October international break, Gyokeres and his country will face challenges against Switzerland and Kosovo.
The two games are must-win, as the Swedes are yet to win a qualifying game, with the two nations above them in the table at present.
Mikel Arteta has been impressed by Gyokeres at Arsenal, and now, Jon Dahl Tomasson will want a similar impact from the striker over the break in play.
- READ MORE: Pundit gets really ‘stuck’ when choosing between Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko
Swedish media highlight Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres problem
Despite not scoring in his previous six games, Gyokeres has positively impacted Arsenal’s style of play when attacking.
For a player who had scored 97 goals over his two seasons before joining the Gunners, there’s a high expectation of the player, not only from pundits and fans, but from himself, too.
Gyokeres has incredibly high standards, but even the striker will be stunned by some of the things he’s been criticised for this season.
The criticism that Gyokeres has received was a talking point for journalist Lundhs Kronika, who compiled a piece for Fotbollskanalen about how unfairly both the Arsenal striker and Alexander Isak are being treated.
The Swedish outlet stated that the ‘lack of patience is frightening and an aggravating factor’ in football right now, with the pressure on Isak and Gyokeres coming from all angles.
Interestingly, Kronika revealed that his motivation to write the article was because he received an email asking, “Who, Gyokeres or Isak, is most likely to take over Brolin’s title as the Premier League’s worst signing ever?”
The journalist admitted that the ‘striking thing’ from the question was that it’s only October, failing to comprehend how the pair are being so unfairly scrutinised.
For strikers joining a top-six Premier League club, there is little to no room for error, with goals expected week by week, unrealistic demands that are breeding at a faster rate than ever.
Isak’s record alongside Gyokeres for Sweden
Even after his first Premier League appearance for Arsenal, Gyokeres was called ‘useless’, simply because he did not score and was not accustomed to playing with his new teammates.
The striker is strong and experienced enough to turn critique into motivation, with the international break giving him the chance to respond to those doubting him.
The same goes for Isak, who boasts an impressive record when playing alongside Gyokeres for his country.
In 13 appearances together for Sweden, Gyokeres has assisted Isak three times, while the Liverpool striker has returned the favour once.
With the 2026 World Cup at stake, the duo will be desperate to make a difference over the October break before the Premier League returns.
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