Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 27 March 2026 6:54, UK Updated Fri 27 March 2026 7:12, UK

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Viktor Gyokeres showed Arsenal what he can do as he sent Sweden to the World Cup play-off final by scoring a hat-trick on Thursday.

Graham Potter’s team won 3-1 in Spain, with the 27-year-old scoring after just six minutes before adding two more in the second half.

Sweden will face Poland in a play-off final in Stockholm on Tuesday, with a place in World Cup group F on the line.

Gyokeres has enjoyed an up-and-down first season with the Gunners, but he remains in with a strong chance of lifting the Premier League title.

Arsenal’s good form was brought to an abrupt end when they were beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final last week, but they remain in contention for the other three trophies.

Swedish media react to Viktor Gyokeres masterclass

Gyokeres has been slammed at times this season, with the striker initially struggling to adapt to the Premier League.

The turn of the year has seen an improvement in his game, however, and it shone through as Sweden beat Ukraine on Thursday.

His first goal was the result of classic centre-forward play – darting off the back of his defender to poke home a cross and give his team the lead.

The second required far more technique. Gyokeres picked up the ball just outside the box and shimmied to the right of his defender to make the space for his shot, which was low and into the bottom corner.

The 27-year-old capped off his performance by winning and then taking a brilliant penalty, which he gave the goalkeeper no chance with by smashing it into the top corner.

Swedish website fotbollskanalen gave Gyokeres a five out of five rating for his performance.

“The striker had an incredible match based on what Sweden needed from him,” they wrote. “He took down ball after ball that was thrown at him, scored a hat-trick and was also the one who fixed the penalty to make it 3-0 – all by himself. World class, Gyokeres!”

Mikel Arteta can take notes from Graham Potter

Thursday’s game has provided a clear example of why teams in the Premier League elect against giving Arsenal the type of space Sweden were afforded.

Yet Potter’s team played to Gyokeres’ strengths right from the off, constantly looking to find him in and around the penalty box.

The 27-year-old can often be left looking isolated for Arsenal, but he is often effective when he is found in the right areas.

Mikel Arteta would have been watching on as Gyokeres bagged his hat-trick, and he may well have taken some notes from the way Potter utilised him.