Gary Lineker believes Arsenal need Viktor Gyokeres to ‘start scoring’ if they’re going to ‘realise their ambitions’ and ultimately win the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side, runners-up for the past three seasons, moved three points clear at the highest of the table with a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.
The Gunners have the joint-best record over the past five games, taking 13 points in that period to ascertain themselves because the early pace-setters.
Second-placed Manchester City also clinched a victory but defending champions Liverpool lost to Manchester United, suffering their fourth successive defeat in all competitions.
Arsenal at the moment are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Premier League for the primary time since 2004 but Lineker believes a successful title bid could also be reliant on an upturn in form in Gyokeres.
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Much was expected of Gyokeres following his £64m move to the Emirates Stadium given his productive spell at Sporting which produced 97 goals in 102 matches.
The Sweden international, 27, scored a brace on his home debut for Arsenal but has netted only one goal in 13 appearances for club and country since then.
Despite Gyokeres’ goal drought, Arteta and a number of other Arsenal players have defended the ex-Sporting striker and insisted he’s contributing to the team’s impressive form.
‘Viktor Gyokeres goes through a little bit of a nasty spell,’ ex-England striker Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. ‘It’s seven games in all competitions with no goal now [for Arsenal].
‘I feel for Arsenal to actually realise their ambitions, he’s going to have to start out scoring a whole lot of goals. I feel it’s a giant spell coming up for him over the following few games.’
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Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, meanwhile, claims Arsenal ‘paid an excessive amount of’ for Gyokeres.
Arsenal accomplished a £64m deal for Gyokeres after seeing off competition from Manchester United, who then spent £74m on Benjamin Sesko.
‘I feel Arsenal paid an excessive amount of for him. I might say the identical with Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United,’ Shearer said. ‘He’s definitely going to need to rating more goals.
‘But I do think he brings something to the Arsenal team. One in all his positives is that he runs in behind which then will help create space for others to use.
‘But there’s little question he’s going to need to 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 feel he has added something different to the team.
‘As a substitute of coming short like Kai Havertz might or Mikel Merino might need, he offers something going the opposite way which then opens up a little bit little bit of space.’
Merino was asked about Gyokeres’ goal drought at Arsenal’s pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
‘I’m sure goals will come, I’m sure he desires to rating as much as anyone else,’ said Merino, who spent a signficant section of last season as a false nine.
‘I’m pretty sure he’s providing the very best performances on and off the ball for his teammates. Everyone needs that love, everyone must feel comfortable to be surrounded by nice people.
‘Viktor is just an example but everyone seems to be wishing him to maintain doing what he’s doing. An important thing is the team wins.
‘He has the tools and the physicality, but we can’t be focusing only on the numbers. If you happen to see the games you see how much he can provide us.
‘I feel he’s a fairly confident guy. On a regular basis in training he scores goals. I feel like he knows what he’s able to. He’s scored so many goals last season. We trust him.’
Arsenal will attempt to keep up their perfect Champions League record when La Liga side Atletico visit the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
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