Gary Lineker's Viktor Gyokeres Theory Challenged by Rio Ferdinand
All four of Viktor Gyokeres' Premier League goals have been against teams in the bottom five, which sparked claims that Arsenal's £64 million signing is a 'flat-track bully.'
Lineker's Criticism
Gary Lineker recently commented on The Rest Is Football that Gyokeres needs to start scoring in more high-profile matches.
"I don't want to call him a flat-track bully, that's a bit unfair. The criticism that people perhaps would say is that what he did in Portugal, he didn't really score many goals against the top teams, and so far his goals have been against Burnley, Forest and Leeds. He needs to do it in some of the big games, but I think he's had a reasonable start."
Ferdinand's Defense
Rio Ferdinand disagrees with Lineker, suggesting that Gyokeres' ability to score against lower-ranked teams is valuable for Arsenal's title hopes.
"If Gyokeres keeps bullying the rubbish and average teams, Mikel Arteta’s side will win the title."
Recent Performance
- Gyokeres scored his fourth Premier League goal in a 2-0 win against Burnley, another bottom-five team.
- He previously scored against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, both also in the league’s lower ranks.
- The Swedish striker did not score against top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, where his overall performance was criticized.
- He also scored twice against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, showcasing his impact beyond the Premier League.
Currently injured, Gyokeres' contributions remain a topic of debate between former players and fans.