Gyokeres responds after leaving Sweden game in blood-stained kit

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Viktor Gyokeres walked through the mixed zone at the Strawberry Arena with blood staining both socks — and then shrugged the whole thing off.

The Arsenal striker had just scored a late winner for Sweden against Poland, his second goal in as many starts under Graham Potter during this month's Nations League window. The visible marks on his socks prompted immediate questions from the Swedish press about his fitness.

Asked by Sportbladet whether he had been stamped on during the game, Gyokeres replied: "Yes, that can happen sometimes."

On whether he had flagged the incident to the referee, he added: "No, I kept my football boots on after the match and I haven't seen him since. Maybe he needs to see that. But now we won and I scored, so it's nothing I need to bring up."

Potter confirms Gyokeres is available

Potter, speaking to Viaplay after the match, confirmed the forward would be fit to feature in at least one of Sweden's remaining fixtures against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania. With Alexander Isak sent home early from the camp, Gyokeres is now the clear first-choice striker for the Blagult.

"If I tell Viktor to rest the next game, he will rip my head off," Potter said. "Of course it's tight (with matches). But it's important to recover and get ready for the next match. Matches are fun so there's nothing to complain about."

That workload question is one Mikel Arteta will be monitoring from north London, particularly given Sweden have two matches still to play before their players return to their clubs.

A contrast between club and country

The international break has offered Gyokeres a platform he has not consistently had at club level this season. The Sweden international has made a slow start to the campaign with Arsenal, having fallen behind Kai Havertz in Arteta's pecking order for the central striking role.

Two starts and two goals for his country represent a sharp contrast to that situation, and the timing is notable. Havertz withdrew from Germany's squad during this camp citing a hamstring problem, leaving a question mark over the German's availability when the domestic schedule resumes.

Should Havertz be unavailable, Gyokeres would be the natural beneficiary — and he would return to Arsenal with match minutes and goals behind him rather than the rust that can come with a spell on the bench.

For now, the striker's own assessment of his bloodied socks was about as understated as it gets. No complaint to the referee, no complaint to the press, and no suggestion he intends to sit anything out.

Arsenal will hope that attitude carries over when the squad reconvenes, with Arteta set to assess both Gyokeres and Havertz once the international window closes.