At a Glance:
- Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick for Sweden against Ukraine on Thursday night.
- Graham Potter’s team move into the World Cup qualification play-off final.
- Swedish media were complimentary of Viktor Gyokeres’ performance.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick and played the full 90 minutes as Sweden beat Ukraine 3-0 to proceed to the World Cup qualification play-off final.
Gyokeres has endured an up-and-down opening campaign in North London, although his performance for his nation on Thursday night certainly wasn’t divisive for Swedish fans and pundits. He stepped up to help his country move closer to qualifying for the World Cup, scoring three times against a stubborn Ukraine side in Valencia.
Graham Potter’s outfit now face Poland in Solna on Tuesday to determine whether they will take part in this summer’s tournament in North America.
Swedish media react to Viktor Gyokeres’ performance against Ukraine
With Alexander Isak out injured, Gyokeres was deployed as a solo striker against Ukraine, with Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren and Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga behind him. The Arsenal man took the pressure off his side when he opened the scoring inside the opening six minutes, tapping home at the back post following a nice move that involved Nygren and Elanga.
The 27-year-old then doubled the Swedes’ lead in the second half by pouncing on a long ball from goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt and slotting past Anatoliy Trubin. A powerfully dispatched penalty added the third and completed his hat-trick, before Matviy Ponomarenko netted a consolation for Ukraine.
It was a stunning display from Arsenal’s number 14, heroically dragging his country to the brink of World Cup qualification. Unsurprisingly, Swedish media were ecstatic with Gyokeres’ performance, with Fotbolldirekt even comparing him to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
📣 Viktor Gyokeres with a hat-trick against Ukraine to send Sweden into the FIFA World Cup Qualifier play-off final 📣 pic.twitter.com/EEnDk2GX3h
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 26, 2026
“Stepped up when it mattered most with three redeeming goals,” they wrote, while handing the forward a five-star rating.
“Took on extra responsibility when the other megastars Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski were missing. The Arsenal striker is, of course, the decisive factor tonight and the one that means that Blagult still has a chance at the World Cup. Zlatan Ibrahimovic-superior tonight, if you will.”
Meanwhile, Svenska Fans also gave him a five, writing: “Was in the right place at the right time as usual and scored 1-0 and got the second and then the third goal came on a penalty. ‘Göken’’s job on the pitch is to pull the balls into the goal and create chances from nowhere, and he did that best. Sweden’s most important player. I give him the highest rating. What else is there to do?”
- READ MORE: Mikel Merino injury update: Will the Arsenal midfielder be fit in time for the 2026 World Cup?
Viktor Gyokeres’ statistics vs Ukraine
In many ways, this was a classic Gyokeres performance. He wasn’t heavily involved in the game, completing just 9 passes at 60% success rate, while he created no chances for his teammates.
However, he made a significant impact in Ukraine’s box and was ultimately the difference between the two teams. Showing excellent movement and physicality for his first two goals, he also powerfully ran away from the Eastern European side’s defence to win the penalty for the third.
| Viktor Gyokeres’ statistics vs Ukraine | |
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Expected Goals | 1.83 |
| Shots | 3 |
| Accurate Passes | 9/15 (60%) |
| Chances Created | 0 |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 5 |
Scoring three goals from three shots, this was a clinical and ruthless display from the former Sporting CP man. He was aggressive, combative and effective.
Arteta and Arsenal will hope he can replicate this form at club level moving forward.
