Gary Lineker reckons Viktor Gyokeres could derail Arsenal’s Premier League title charge this campaign. The 27-year-old striker, who propelled Sporting CP to Portuguese title glory last term with 39 goals, moved to the Gunners for an initial £55million during the summer window. He became Mikel Arteta’s sixth summer signing following the arrivals of Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke.
However, despite Gyokeres’ signing being greeted with considerable excitement, he has so far managed just three goals in 11 outings. And while the Gunners sit three points clear at the summit after Saturday evening’s 1-0 triumph over Fulham, Lineker insists Gyokeres must ‘start scoring’ if Arsenal are to fulfil their dreams this term.
“I think for Arsenal to really realise their ambitions, he’s going to have to start scoring a lot of goals,” he told The Rest is Football podcast. “I think it’s a big spell coming up for him over the next few games.”
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer then added regarding Gyokeres: “I think Arsenal paid too much for him. I would say the same with Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United.
“He’s definitely going to have to score more goals. But I do think he brings something to the Arsenal team. One of his positives is that he runs in behind, which then will help create space for others to exploit.
“But there’s no doubt he’s going to have to improve his numbers with the goals because, as we said it last season, what Arsenal have needed, cried out for, is a goalscorer.
“He’s only got three up to now, but they are looking really impressive as a team and I think he has added something different to the team.
“Instead of coming short like Kai Havertz might or Mikel Merino might have, he offers something going the other way which then opens up a little bit of space.”
However, Lineker’s assessment marks a complete reversal from his comments about the striker earlier this month. The former Match of the Day presenter had insisted that Gyokeres was destined to find the net regularly once Bukayo Saka returned from injury.
“I also think that even though he’s not banged loads of goals in yet, but he’s got his fair share, Gyokeres, I think he gives them something different,” he said.
“He gives them a threat behind, which creates more space for the midfield and even the wide players, and he’s aggressive with his running and he likes to spin and he attacks the space in the box.
“The goals will come for him because with the service that I think he’ll inevitably get, particularly now Saka is back in the mix and looks like his old self after his injury.
“So I think it’s quite promising for Arsenal. I think we might be in this season for a really good title race.”
