Viktor Gyökeres received sharp criticism from Swedish media after a subdued outing in Sweden’s 2–0 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina. The Arsenal forward had begun his international campaign by teeing up Sweden’s second goal in a 2–2 draw with Slovenia, but he struggled to influence the contest in Kosovo.

Statistics from the match underline the frustration: Gyökeres took 44 touches, 12 of them inside Kosovo’s penalty area, yet managed to force Arijanet Muric into only one save across his 90 minutes.

Expressen were particularly severe in their assessment. “It is noticeable that he is not in his best shape, the touch is not quite there and Gyökeres often lost the ball,” wrote Therese Strömberg and Linus Petersson. “He did dig up a couple of half-chances in the first half, but it is not enough. This was too bad a performance by the attacking star.”

Fotbollskanalen offered a milder read, judging him “acceptable” in the first half but calling him “invisible” after the interval.

Observers have contrasted the current impression with Gyökeres’s reputation at Sporting CP, where his physique was a regular talking point. His former manager Ruben Amorim liked to joke that he had a body “from God,” yet there has been a repeated sense of sluggishness in his earliest appearances at Arsenal.

That slow start can be traced in part to timing around the transfer. Much like Isak, Gyökeres snubbed Sporting’s pre-season training to secure his Premier League switch, only joining up midway through Arsenal’s tour of Asia.

After a disjointed Premier League debut against Manchester United, Mikel Arteta acknowledged the need to work on the striker’s adaptation. “You can tell especially in our high press and rhythm that we demand, that especially in the first half we were giving a bit too much time. It is something that we have to work on him, especially there.”

For now, the scrutiny from Sweden focuses on conditioning and timing as Gyökeres seeks to translate his club potential into consistent international performances.

Eberechi Eze described a frenetic summer transfer period but said he never doubted his next step as he completed a move to Arsenal and was unveiled at the Emirates Stadium.

The 27-year-old, a boyhood Arsenal fan who spent time in the club’s academy, moved quickly once the club renewed their interest. Arsenal had held a meeting months earlier where the basic framework for a move was agreed, but the process fell quiet for an extended spell and at one stage it appeared he was close to joining Tottenham Hotspur instead.

Just four days separated news of Arsenal’s bid and Eze’s presentation on the pitch, a swift sequence he said he tried to savour. The introduction at the Emirates Stadium was, he added, a “special” moment for him and his family.

On the uncertainty and media attention, Eze was measured. “Worried? No. Because I play football,” he said. “That’s what I do and wherever I am, I want to be the best I can be and I’m confident I’ll do that wherever I am.

“I’m grateful that it’s Arsenal and that I’ve got the opportunity to play there and do what I do and I’m looking forward to it. There’s a lot going on, it’s fun for me. This is why I play football. These are opportunities that you want. This is for me so I am enjoying it as much as I can. And do what I can.”

Reflecting on the presentation, Eze said he focused on the moment and on what it meant to those closest to him. “I was trying to [take it all in] because as you know, you have that moment and then that it’s gone,” he continued.“I was just there, looking at the crowd and watching everything happen and it was a cool moment—more for my family, seeing what it meant to them. I think that’s the special thing for me.

“For me, now, I’m just excited to play, excited to do my thing on the pitch, to work hard, apply myself and get to doing what I do. There’s been a lot of noise off the pitch but I just want to get down and play.

“And it’s not everyone that gets to experience these types of moments but yeah, I try to enjoy it and take it in my stride as much as possible because there’s always something that is coming. There is always another opportunity and challenge coming so that’s how I see it.”

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has publicly placed Arsenal among his principal picks to challenge for the Premier League title, citing the established relationships at the heart of the team. Asked for his title predictions by BILD, Mbappé highlighted Arsenal’s core of players — William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka among others — as a reason for optimism that the club could finally end its long wait.

“Of course, Liverpool has to be mentioned first and foremost, as they’re determined to win one title after another,” he explained. “But I also have high hopes for Arsenal, because the core of the team has known each other for a long time, and that’s a crucial factor in football.

“And Manchester City is always at the forefront anyway, with Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland.”

Pressed for a clearer prediction, Mbappé conceded the choice was difficult and offered Arsenal as a possible winner. “That’s tough,” the Real Madrid forward said. “Maybe Arsenal, maybe it will be their year. It would certainly be easier to say City or Liverpool.”

Those remarks arrive with the Premier League table still taking shape after the opening fixtures. Liverpool have opened up a two-point lead after the first three games of the season, a position helped by a 1–0 victory over Arteta’s Arsenal before the international break. Arsenal sit third, with two wins from three games.

Manchester City, meanwhile, have started poorly by their standards and find themselves 13th after two straight defeats, a run that has piled the pressure back on Guardiola. Mbappé’s assessment underlines the tightness of the race and the belief that squad cohesion can be as important as high-profile signings when the title is decided.