2 weeks ago
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Gary Lineker reckons Viktor Gyokeres could derail Arsenal's Premier League title charge this campaign.
The England legend's verdict will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans, who are hoping Arsenal's title challenge will collapse. Despite three consecutive Premier League defeats, the Reds are still firmly in the title race and only four points behind the Gunners.
Gyokeres, who propelled Sporting Lisbon to Portuguese glory last term with 39 strikes, moved to Arsenal during the summer window. The 27-year-old became Mikel Arteta's sixth summer acquisition following the captures of Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Noni Madueke.
However, despite Gyokeres' signing being greeted with considerable excitement, he has thus far managed just three goals in 11 outings.
And while the Gunners sit three points clear of Manchester City at the summit after Saturday's 1-0 triumph over Fulham, Lineker insists Gyokeres must start scoring if Arsenal is to fulfil its dreams this term.
"I think for Arsenal to really realize their ambitions, he's going to have to start scoring a lot of goals," Lineker told The Rest is Football podcast. "I think it's a big spell coming up for him over the next few games."
Discussing Gyokeres, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer then added: "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 stance represents a complete reversal from his comments about the striker earlier this month. The ex-Match of the Day presenter had previously 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."
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