According to a report by Football London on Thursday November 5, 2026, the 2-1 Champions League win over Slavia Prague on Wednesday was a great opportunity for Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres to show fans why the club spent so much to sign him.

With a goal and an assist, the Swedish international was instrumental in Arsenal's lopsided first half performance. Mikel Arteta's team earned ten points from their first four European matches thanks to his performance.

Using his strength to evade his marker and set up Noni Madueke for the finish from David Raya's long clearance, Gyokeres set up Arsenal's first goal in the ninth minute.

The forward then made a superb individual contribution just before halftime, combining with Mikel Merino to calmly put the ball beyond the goalkeeper and inside the far post after exchanging passes.

Some were very complimentary of his performance; one Arsenal fan even went so far as to say it was his best half-an-hour with the club. After the game, Gyokeres was named the official Player of the Match by UEFA.

His rising stature is further evidenced by his recent statistics. He had a stellar international break, scoring four goals for Sweden, and has since returned to action for Arsenal, where he has scored five goals in five games.

Five goals and three assists have been tallied by Gyokeres in his past ten starts for Arsenal. He is one of two Swedish players, alongside Freddie Ljungberg, to have contributed to sixteen goals in the Champions League.

Despite Gary Lineker's earlier suggestion that Gyokeres would be more effective on the bench, the latter's recent efforts have provided ample proof that the former is deserving of more credit.

Arsenal now has more attacking options thanks to his hold-up play, improved passing, and knack for releasing teammates with quick deliveries. Whenever the chance presents itself, his finishing ability is still a crucial quality.

Even though Arteta occasionally favors Kai Havertz, Gyokeres must show comparable effectiveness when facing stronger opponents, especially in crucial encounters. With this performance, he has solidified his spot in Saturday's starting lineup against Hull.