Former Sweden midfielder Martin Åslund has been critical of Viktor Gyökeres form for his country and Arsenal.
Sweden have failed to win four World Cup qualifying matches in a row and earlier this week, they showed the exit door to Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Åslund, who is now a pundit for Viaplay, was analysing the Arsenal player and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak. Fotboll Direkt have relayed his comments.
Gyökeres spent two seasons at Sporting, managing 97 goals and 28 assists from 102 matches. This attracted interest from several clubs, and Arsenal were successful in securing his services in July.
The 27-year-old striker hasn’t replicated his Sporting form at the north London club yet. He has three goals from 10 matches. Isak, who joined the Reds from Newcastle United, has a goal and an assist from six games this season.
Gyökeres and Isak have been the two strikers for the national team and haven’t managed to impress in recent times.
Åslund was part of the panel that debated whether Isak should start against Manchester United this week. Fotboll Direkt say the discussion quickly shifted to Gyökeres’ ‘lack of form’ recently.
“It’s important to remember that Isak hasn’t really performed well for our national team in general,” he said.
“This is a result of the coaches we’ve had, the way we’ve played and himself, but his second half against Kosovo is still much better than anything Gyökeres has achieved.
“Gyökeres really, really seems out of form. His team wins matches. If he’s not that good himself, then maybe that’s enough.”
