Gyokeres dismisses Arsenal exit talk despite Havertz's stranglehold on starting spot

Viktor Gyokeres has moved to silence exit rumours, stating plainly that he has no desire to leave Arsenal despite being largely restricted to a backup role in his second season at the club.

The Sweden international, 28, has made just one Premier League start for the reigning champions this term, with Mikel Arteta consistently selecting Kai Havertz to lead the line. The situation has prompted suggestions that Gyokeres — signed from Sporting Lisbon last summer for £63.5 million — might push for a move away. Asked directly by Swedish outlets Fotbollskanalen and TV4 whether he was staying, his answer was unambiguous: “I want to!”

“It feels good when I’ve played. We’ve won most of the games,” Gyokeres said. “I’ve been doing well lately when I’ve been playing. Right now it feels good.”

He also played down any tension with Arteta over his limited opportunities, describing their relationship as straightforward and professional. “The communication with Arteta is good. We talk about football and how we should play. Before a match, if I’m going to start, we talk about the opponents and what I should think about.”

Gyokeres finished his debut Premier League campaign with 14 goals but is yet to open his account in the league this season. He has, however, contributed in Europe, scoring and assisting in Arsenal’s Champions League fixture against Slavia Prague. His international form has also been sharp, with 10 goals in 11 games for Sweden.

His place in Arteta’s plans has drawn outside scrutiny, with CBS Sports pundit Nigel Reo-Coker suggesting the manager “doesn’t trust” Gyokeres for big matches — a view shaped in part by the striker’s involvement in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Fleetwood Town. Gyokeres, though, says external criticism barely registers.

“Sometimes it might get to me, but overall not so much,” he said. “If I score goals and assists in the Champions League, I couldn’t care less what they say. It’s natural — it’s what gets the most headlines and what sticks the most when people listen. I understand that’s how it is.”