Viktor Gyokeres red flag raised by Rio Ferdinand as he identifies issue for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has received a warning from ex-England star Rio Ferdinand over Viktor Gyokeres' disappointing record against top opposition.

Following a protracted transfer saga, the Gunners eventually secured the signing of the Swedish star from Sporting CP last month for £63.7million. His arrival has generated an ecstatic reaction from fans who are hoping to see the striker, who netted 97 goals in 102 outings for Sporting, lead Arsenal to the Premier League title this season.

Nevertheless, whilst Gyokeres has vowed to deliver supporters a flood of goals, warning signs have emerged with a concerning statistic revealing that he managed just two goals in eight matches against sides that finished between second and fifth in Portugal's top division last term, reports the Mirror.

Suggestions that the player struggles against stronger opposition will undoubtedly worry Arteta, given Arsenal's difficulties finding the net against top-half Premier League clubs last year, as they eventually finished second behind Liverpool.

Ferdinand, whilst entirely confident Gyokeres will find the net regularly for Arsenal, did express his reservations about his performance against elite teams.

"That would be a flag for me," former Manchester United defender Ferdinand said on his Rio Presents podcast. "I don't think it would determine if I'd take him, but it would be something where I'd go, 'Let me just look back further down the line' – and then what's the reason?

"We watched a game together he played in, against Man City, and we watched the game against Arsenal together as well. Against Arsenal he played against two machines, Saliba and Gabriel, they made it a hard day's work for him and they do for most strikers. So, physically if he matches, what else has he got? That's the question I'm asking now.

"Then he played against Man City, he looked menacing, he looked good [but] played against an 18-year-old centre half [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey]. [Manuel] Akanji played against him and didn't play that well against him either, so it skewered the, 'Oh, he can do it against English teams' for me.

"There are question marks, but I just feel, for Arsenal, he's going to get so many more looks on goal, I don't think it's a big gamble for Arsenal. As long as he doesn't go looking for football outside the box too much. Stay in and around the penalty box and the ball will come."

Worries persist as the very traits that led Arteta to prioritise the striker seem to be forcing the Gunners boss to already make a tactical shift in pre-season to accommodate the forward.

ESPN reported that the Spaniard has instructed his squad to advance the ball as swiftly as possible to capitalise on Gyokeres' strengths, despite the fact the Swede has yet to find the back of the net for Arsenal in pre-season.

Gary Lineker also voiced his apprehensions on The Rest Is Football podcast, with the former Match of the Day presenter labelling Gyokeres' transfer as a "gamble".

Gyokeres clinched the golden boot in the Primeira Liga last year, netting 39 goals as his team secured a second consecutive title. However, he only managed to score twice in eight league matches against Benfica, who finished second, Porto who came third, and Braga and Santa Clara, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.

These statistics could be a concern for Arteta, considering his squad averaged 2.05 goals per match against bottom-half teams in the 2024/25 season compared to 1.55 against top-half opponents.

The Gunners also boasted a 70% win rate against the bottom-half teams but only 33% against the top half. Nonetheless, they will take heart from Gyokeres' six goals in the Champions League, including a memorable hat-trick against City in November 2024.

He also netted a vital late goal to defeat Benfica in the Portuguese cup final, demonstrating his ability to deliver under pressure when his team needs it most.

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