Declan Rice and Paul Merson disagree on Viktor Gyokeres problem at Arsenal - 'Trust me!'

Viktor Gyokeres has been incredibly underwhelming so far this season, scoring just five goals in the Premier League

Declan Rice has leapt to the defence of Viktor Gyokeres following Arsenal's 3-2 win over Bournemouth. The 26-year-old midfielder fired Mikel Arteta's side to victory at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday night, maintaining the Gunners' lead at the top of the Premier League.

The north Londoners showed great resilience on the south coast as they came from behind to clinch three crucial points in the title race. Rice stepped up to the plate while Gyokeres failed to impress, again, extending his barren run in front of goal.

The 27-year-old striker, whom Arsenal signed from Sporting in the summer for £64million, has only found the net five times in the English top flight this season. Despite his disappointing performances, Rice believes the Gunners will not be able to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title without him.

The England international has claimed that defenders swarm Gyokeres because he's 'one of the best strikers in the world'. Rice said: "It’s tough for him, because he’s got two defenders on him all game, all over him.

"So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team and with my first goal, without him making that run from Gabriel Martinelli’s flick and holding it, setting it off to Martin [Odegaard], that goal wouldn’t happen.

"That was a pivotal moment in the game for us to turn the game on its head. I see how hard he hits a ball, and when that space arrives for him, and the ball’s arriving at his feet to score goals, he will 100 per cent score."

Rice added: "But at the minute, defenders in the Premier League want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he’s one of the best strikers in the world.

"Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us, and we wouldn’t be where we are without him."

Paul Merson hasn't been afraid to question Gyokeres, claiming that Arsenal still need to sign a 'natural goalscorer'. Speaking on Sky Sports, the Gunners icon said: "Up front.

"I don’t think Arsenal have a natural goalscorer. Gyokeres has come in and is supposed to be that player, but I don’t think he’s a natural goalscorer.

"He’s never tapping balls in, he’s not got a lot of goals, fullstop. When it gets down to those last eight games, and it gets so nervy, you might need that something out of nothing.

"They need a natural goalscorer, and I think the nearest they have is Gabriel Jesus. He goes with Gyokeres before him, and I think he’ll go with [Kai] Havertz before him when he comes back. That’s the one for me."