Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker disagree on Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal theory
Viktor Gyokeres scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season on Saturday, helping Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Burnley. The win came against another bottom-five opponent, fueling debate among pundits about Gyokeres’ performances against weaker teams.
Lineker’s View
"I don't want to call him a flat-track bully, that's a bit unfair," Lineker said on The Rest Is Football. "The criticism that people might raise is that in Portugal, he didn’t really score many against top teams, and so far here, his goals have been against Burnley, Forest, and Leeds. He needs to show it in the big games, though he’s had a decent start."
Ferdinand’s Response
Rio Ferdinand pushed back against the notion, saying it was unreasonable to brand Gyokeres a flat-track bully after only a few months in the Premier League. He emphasized the striker’s consistency and work rate across different leagues.
Performance Overview
- Gyokeres, 27, has scored four Premier League goals this season.
- His goals came against Burnley, Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest—teams in the league’s lower half.
- He has not scored yet against Liverpool, Manchester City, or Manchester United.
- During his time at Sporting Lisbon, he recorded 97 goals in 102 games.
Summary
Lineker questions Gyokeres’ ability to deliver in high-stakes matches, while Ferdinand believes the criticism is premature given his consistent scoring form and adaptation to English football.
Author’s summary: The debate over Viktor Gyokeres highlights the tension between early form and long-term consistency, with pundits split over his readiness to shine in top-tier clashes.