Viktor Gyökeres has revealed that brutally honest team discussions after Arsenal’s draw at Wolves last Wednesday brought renewed purpose and helped them secure a restorative 4-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday.
The striker produced arguably his best performance for Arsenal, scoring twice in the derby victory. After the match, Declan Rice mentioned a “firm chat” among players following the 2-2 stalemate at Molineux. Gyökeres explained that when the squad reconvened for a regular meeting on Friday, many still had things to get off their chests.
“Most of us spoke,” Gyökeres said. “It’s important sometimes just to say what you feel and to let it out in the group. Everyone can recognise how different people feel in the moment and you get a better understanding of the feeling. When you speak in the group openly like that I think you come closer together.”
He added: “If you’re not honest, it’s hard to improve. I think the most important thing is to be that. So, yeah, it was a good chat.”
Gyökeres’s goals against Spurs were a curling strike from the edge of the area and a second after surging onto a pass from Martin Ødegaard, holding off Archie Gray and steering past Guglielmo Vicario. “I love to score, no matter who we are playing, but, of course, in this kind of game it’s always enjoyable to score,” he said. The win moved Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City, though they have played an extra game.
