Viktor Gyokeres’s hat-trick for Sweden could also be well timed for Arsenal's hunt for glory

Valencia, Spain — Viktor Gyokeres walked off the Ciutat de València pitch with the match ball tucked under his arm and a swarm of team-mates congratulating him, the perfect souvenir from a night that revived both Sweden’s World Cup dream and, potentially, Arsenal’s pursuit of major silverware.

The 27-year-old striker’s first international goals in almost two years — a ruthless hat-trick — powered Sweden to a 3-1 victory over Ukraine in Thursday’s play-off semi-final and within one win of this summer’s tournament. For Gyokeres, the timing could scarcely be better: club football resumes with Arsenal nine points clear atop the Premier League and days away from a Champions League quarter-final against his former employers, Sporting CP.

Graham Potter, appointed only last autumn, has quickly drilled Sweden into a compact, counter-attacking unit, and Gyokeres provided the cutting edge. Inside five minutes he darted between Ukraine’s centre-backs to meet Benjamin Nygren’s low cross and steered the opener past Anatoliy Trubin. Ukraine dominated possession but rarely pierced the Swedish block, and seven minutes after the restart Gyokeres doubled the advantage. Collecting goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt’s long punt on his chest, he drove at Valeriy Bondar, shifted the ball to his right foot and arrowed a 15-yard strike inside the post.

The contest was settled on 68 minutes when Oleksandr Tymchyk’s loose pass allowed Gyokeres to sprint clear; Trubin’s desperate lunge brought him down and the Swede thumped the resulting penalty down the centre for 3-0. Matviy Ponomarenko’s late header was scant consolation for Ukraine, whose World Cup hopes end here.

Post-match, Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov was magnanimous. “Gyokeres played great tonight; he showed why he plays for Arsenal and is one of the best strikers in the world,” he said, while also bemoaning the defensive lapses that preceded the first two goals.

Potter praised more than the goals. “His hold-up play, defensive responsibility — the team behind him were top, but Viktor led the line brilliantly,” he said, smiling at the memory of his dressing-room quip: “I told him to go and score a hat-trick.”

For Arsenal supporters, the performance offered a glimpse of the player they hoped was arriving when the club paid Sporting €63.5 million (£54.8 m) last summer. Gyokeres hit 79 goals in 83 games in Portugal, yet only five came in his opening 21 Premier League appearances, none against top-six rivals. A February derby double against Tottenham took him to 15 for the season and drew warm praise from Mikel Arteta; still, questions lingered about his ability to decide the tightest matches.

Thursday’s evidence was compelling. The second goal, fashioned almost single-handedly, showcased strength, touch and composure, while his penalty illustrated nerve under lights. With Liverpool’s Alexander Isak injured, Gyokeres relished sole striker duties and looked every inch the old-school No. 9 Potter’s system requires.

Sweden now return to Stockholm for Tuesday’s final against Poland and Robert Lewandowski, one more victory from the World Cup. Gyokeres will report back to London buoyed by personal momentum and, crucially, confidence — a commodity Arteta’s attack has lacked in recent weeks. Should the Swede import his international form to the Premier League and Europe, Arsenal’s spring ambitions will receive exactly the shot of predatory instinct they need.