6 days ago
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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has raised doubts about whether Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta genuinely desired new striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Scholes also harbors concerns that the Swedish forward may struggle to adjust to the Gunners' possession-heavy approach. Following an extended period without a genuine No. 9, Arsenal eventually secured Sporting CP star Gyokeres last month, acquiring him for approximately £64 million ($85.9 million) after a summer filled with transfer speculation.
The North London club beat off interest from Premier League competitors United for the 27-year-old, yet Red Devils icon Scholes has now cast doubt on whether manager Arteta truly coveted the player and whether Gyökeres will flourish given Arsenal's possession-dominated style.
"[Arsenal needed a] Centre forward, I just wonder if you've chosen the right one," Scholes declared on The Overlap Fan Debate.
"Because there was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing about it, I wondered if Mikel Arteta really wanted him, as the main one he wants? I'm not too sure, and he's got him now.
"He's had a really strange career path - Brighton, Coventry, and then he's gone to Sporting Lisbon and his goal record is absolutely brilliant – you can't take it away from him."
Gyokeres found the net an impressive 97 times in 102 appearances for Sporting across all competitions during the previous two campaigns, though Scholes questions whether the Gunners' tactical setup will complement his abilities.
"If there's any team that he could go to and create chances, then it should be Arsenal and it should be a really good match," Scholes continued.
"The only thing I'd say against Gyokeres really is that with Sporting Lisbon, he's probably playing on the counter-attack a lot, in Europe especially.
"You think of Arsenal, they have the ball an awful lot, is he going to be clever enough to make these runs in behind? A lot of him that you see, he's sprinting from the halfway line almost.
"You can't keep up with him, he's ramming people, he's quick and he's smashing the ball in. Is he going to be that clever striker – we know Isak can do that. Can Gyokeres do that?"
One player who believes that Gyokeres will excel at the Emirates is club captain Martin Odegaard, who praised his new team-mate during Arsenal's pre-season visit to Hong Kong.
"I think you've all seen what he's done in his career so far," Odegaard stated. "Especially the last season at Sporting, the numbers speak for themselves. He's a very complete player. He's physical, strong, fast, good finisher and intelligent as well.
"I think he's a very complete striker and you can also see the hunger, the energy he brings. I'm really excited to have him with the team. He's only trained a few times, but you can already see the quality, the energy, and the willingness. I'm excited to share a pitch with him."
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