Graham Potter Announces First Sweden Squad; Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres Left Out
Sweden has officially unveiled the first squad under new manager Graham Potter, and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres is notably absent.
Gyokeres sustained an injury during Arsenal’s match against Burnley over the weekend, and reports indicate he will be sidelined until after the international break. Sweden’s decision not to include him seems to confirm this timeline.
There is some optimism around Gyokeres’ recovery, as James McNicholas reported for The Athletic that Arsenal hopes to have him back for the north London derby on November 23. However, this is contingent on further medical assessments.
While Gyokeres’ absence is unfortunate for Sweden, the team is not in a position of great urgency. To have a chance at finishing as runners-up in their qualifiers, Sweden would need to win both remaining matches and rely on Kosovo to drop points.
However, this would hardly affect their prospects, as they are already likely to qualify for the playoffs due to their performance in the Nations League.
Thus, even in an optimistic scenario where all November international results favor Sweden, their chances of making the World Cup remain relatively unchanged.
The most significant impact of Gyokeres’ exclusion is the missed opportunity to integrate under the new management. These matches will be Sweden’s only fixtures prior to the crucial qualification playoffs in March, leaving Gyokeres with no chance to adapt.
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