Gary Lineker’s Criticism of Viktor Gyokeres Challenged by Rio Ferdinand
Viktor Gyokeres has scored all four of his Premier League goals against teams in the bottom five, which sparked claims of him being a "flat-track bully." However, Rio Ferdinand has pushed back against this idea after Gary Lineker suggested the Arsenal striker needs to start scoring in bigger matches.
Gyokeres’ Premier League Performance
The 27-year-old scored his fourth league goal during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Burnley, a team also in the bottom five. His other Premier League goals came against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, two clubs struggling near the bottom of the table.
Gyokeres struggled to make an impact against top sides like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, drawing criticism for his less impressive overall play.
Gary Lineker’s Viewpoint
"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."
Rio Ferdinand’s Response
Ferdinand disagrees with Lineker and believes that Gyokeres’ ability to score against lower-ranked teams is valuable. He argues that if Gyokeres continues to dominate these matches, Arsenal can still secure the Premier League title.
Fans may remember that the former Sporting Lisbon player, currently sidelined with an injury, scored twice against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, demonstrating his capability on a larger stage.
Summary
While Lineker calls for Gyokeres to prove himself in big games, Ferdinand highlights the striker’s contributions against weaker opponents as crucial for Arsenal’s title ambitions.
Author’s summary: Despite criticism about his scoring only lower-ranked teams, Gyokeres’ impact in key matches and European competition shows he remains a valuable asset for Arsenal’s title hopes.