Alan Shearer has praised one in every of Arsenal’s summer signings with the club top of the Premier League, but says Mikel Arteta still ‘paid an excessive amount of for him’.
Following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Fulham, the Gunners are three points clear of Manchester City and 4 ahead of Liverpool following their 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
While we’re only eight games into the season, some consider the title race is already theirs to lose, with Arteta’s squad hailed as one of the best within the league following a formidable summer transfer window.
Arsenal spent over £255million on eight players with Martin Zubimendi and Cristhian Mosquera hitting the bottom running, while others like Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have looked good but not hit full speed yet.
One other having a mixed begin to life on the Emirates is Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored just three goals in 11 appearances since his £57m move from Sporting Lisbon.
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The Sweden striker has now did not hit the back of the online in seven games, though has still earned praise for his work off the ball, and Shearer says he must do more to justify his transfer fee.
‘I believe they’ve paid an excessive amount of for him. I’d say the identical with Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United,’ the Premier League legend said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘He’s definitely going to should rating more goals. But I do think he brings something to the Arsenal team. Certainly one of his positives is that he runs in behind which then will help create space for others to take advantage of.
‘But there’s little doubt he’s going to should improve his numbers with the goals because we said it last season, what Arsenal have needed, cried out for, is a goal scorer.
‘He’s only got three to date, but they’re looking really impressive as a team and I believe he has added something different to the team.
‘As an alternative of coming short like Kai Havertz might or Mikel Merino might need, he offers something going the opposite way which then opens up slightly little bit of space.’
Gyokeres may have the possibility to finish his goalless run when Arsenal host Atletico Madrid within the Champions League on Tuesday night, before Crystal Palace visit the Emirates on Sunday.
The previous Newcastle striker later added: ‘Arsenal are sensible, great defensively. Three goals conceded, that’s all this season.
‘That’s an enormous, huge strength of theirs and clearly set pieces and one other one won them the sport. So, they’re looking really, really strong.’
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