Arsenal ace Viktor Gyokeres has established himself as one of the top strikers in Europe over the past few years, thanks to his impressive performances at both club and international level. Now, the 27-year-old has elevated his stature by recently notching an individual award.
Viktor Gyokeres Feels Pride After Receiving Swedish Award
Earlier this Friday, Dec. 19, Gyokeres was named as the Swedish Forward of the Year at the Fotbollsgalan, an annual Swedish sports awards ceremony. The Arsenal summer arrival won the honor for a third straight year, finishing ahead of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren.
After winning the aforesaid award, the former Sporting CP striker expressed his elation.
“It has been a year full of events. We won the league and the cup with Sporting and it was incredible to be part of history. Then, the transfer to Arsenal, being in this environment and playing here is fantastic. I am very proud and happy with the award. I will take many positive things with me from this year,” Gyokeres said (via GOAL).
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Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal in a deal worth up to $86 million earlier this July, relished an excellent 2025 playing for the Gunners, Sporting CP, and Sweden. He contributed 33 goals and eight assists in 48 combined matches for the aforementioned three teams in 2025.
On the other hand, Liverpool’s Isak was named the 2025 Swedish Men’s Player of the Year.
Liverpool Great Believes Gyokeres Is Not a Starter at Arsenal
Speaking on Sky Sports, Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has suggested Gyokeres is not the first-choice striker for Arsenal this season. He also stated that Mikel Merino is ahead of the Swede in the Gunners’ pecking order.
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“I actually think it’s going to be tough for Gyokeres to be the first-choice Arsenal striker. Merino, right now, I actually think is first choice. I know Gyokeres played at the weekend, I think that was down to the fact he’d just come back from injury, he needed a game and it was also Wolves at home. Merino has been fantastic getting goals in that position, but almost like a false nine,” Carragher said (via Metro).
Since the start of the 2025-26 season, Gyokeres has netted six goals in 19 overall matches for Mikel Arteta’s team. Merino, a versatile box-to-box midfielder, has contributed five goals and three assists in 23 total appearances for Arsenal this season.
