‘Most of us spoke’: crunch talks fired up Arsenal for derby win, reveals Gyökeres

A frank team meeting following Arsenal’s draw with Wolves led to an ‘honest’ exchange, Viktor Gyökeres has said, laying the groundwork for an emphatic derby triumph

Viktor Gyökeres has revealed that Arsenal’s brutally honest team discussions after the draw at Wolves last Wednesday brought renewed purpose and helped them to secure a restorative win at Tottenham on Sunday.

Gyökeres produced arguably his best performance for Arsenal in the 4-1 derby victory, threatening from start to finish and scoring two goals. It was the perfect way for Arsenal to respond to the Wolves game, when they surrendered a 2-0 lead in a match that ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Declan Rice said there had been a “firm chat” between the players after the game at Molineux, adding that “things will get said in the moment, even if it is heated”. Gyökeres revealed that when they reconvened for a regular team meeting on Friday, many still had things to get off their chests.

“Most of us spoke,” the striker 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.”

Arsenal’s win against Spurs moved them five points clear of Manchester City, though they have played an extra game. They are next in action at home against Chelsea on Sunday, following a clear midweek for the first time in two months.

Gyökeres was asked to elaborate on the searing honesty of the meeting on Friday. “If you’re not honest, it’s hard to improve. I think the most important thing is to be that,” he said. “So, yeah, it was a good chat.”

Gyökeres has scored seven times since his goal against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on 14 January. No Premier League player has more than him in 2026 across all competitions. He is Arsenal’s top scorer with 15 and the 27-year-old’s goals against Spurs were arguably his most important for the club. His other eight in the league have come against Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Everton and Sunderland.

The Swede’s first goal at Spurs was a curling strike from the edge of the area while for his second he surged on to a pass from Martin Ødegaard, held off Archie Gray and steered past Guglielmo Vicario. It was the kind of finish which made his name at Sporting, before he signed for Arsenal last summer for £64m.

“I love to score, no matter who we are playing, but, of course, in this kind of game it’s always enjoyable to score,” Gyökeres said.

“Was it my best game for Arsenal? Yeah. There were a few battles but I think when I’m involved like I was and get the balls around the box as well, chances … then it’s easier to show my qualities and be able to score goals.”