David Seaman makes Viktor Gyokeres prediction after double for Arsenal against Atletico Madrid | Football

David Seaman has jumped to Viktor Gyokeres’ defence and backed Arsenal’s marquee summer signing to turn into an actual threat once he gets used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

Arsenal narrowed their seek for a brand new striker all the way down to just just a few names before honing in on a £64million deal for Gyokeres, on the back of the Swede’s extraordinary title-winning season with Sporting.

Gyokeres took Portuguese football by storm along with his phenomenal goalscoring exploits across his two years at Sporting, netting 97 times in only 102 appearances after joining from Coventry City.

As perhaps ought to be expected, Gyokeres has found life somewhat tougher within the Premier League and the 27-year-old has did not rating in his last 4 games for the Gunners in the highest flight.

Gyokeres has, though, been praised for his work off the ball and the forward will little question be buoyed by his midweek performance in Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid, during which he accomplished a second-half brace.

Mikel Arteta has repeatedly thrown his support behind Gyokeres and might be expected to proceed with the attacker this weekend when top-of-the-table Arsenal return to Premier League motion at home to Crystal Palace.

‘He’s getting used to the team, he’s getting used to his team-mates and he’s getting used to the pace of the Premier League,’ ex-Arsenal and England goalkeeper Seaman told talkSPORT when asked about Gyokeres’ start.

‘That’s something that loads of players, especially the foreign guys, once they first come, they find it really difficult to get used to the pace and the physicality.

‘As we’ve seen, Gyokeres loves a little bit of physical motion in there so give him time.

‘He’s recuperating and higher, he’s getting fitter and fitter and I’m sure there’s going to be more goals.’

Seaman is massively encouraged by Arsenal’s strength in depth this season and believes Arteta’s mixture of youth and experience stands the club in good stead within the title race.

‘Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are still to return back so there are still really good players to return back which are injured,’ he added.

‘But the blokes on the bench, it’s quality, and that’s exactly what you would like.

‘I feel the squad is a very good mixture of experienced players after which young players and that’s what you usually want.

‘You don’t need a team stuffed with young players since you don’t know what you’re going to get – after which at the opposite end, it is likely to be a bit bit slower.

‘But the combo at Arsenal, in the mean time, is incredible.’

Arsenal’s threat in dead-ball situations has once more proven a useful weapon for Arteta this season, with ten of the club’s first 15 league goals coming from set-pieces.

‘It’s all about that delivery,’ Seaman – a two-time Premier League winner with Arsenal – explained.

‘Even [Bukayo] Saka said on the weekend that a few of his deliveries were terrible after which he gets one right and we scored from it.

‘That’s what it has been like. The deliveries have been incredible.

‘If you get success like that, it gives you more confidence to essentially get on the tip of it with a flick-on on the near post or a direct header.

‘It gives you so far more confidence when that delivery is coming in with such pace.’

In line with Seaman, much of Arsenal’s success this season may be attributed to the solid foundations they’ve built on the back.

‘They’re really confident. The unit is sensible, all of them appear to know what one another is doing as well,’ Seaman said of Arsenal’s defence.

‘The special thing about it, also, is when players are available in, like when Myles Lewis-Skelly got here in against Atletico Madrid, he knows what he’s doing, he knows what the back two are doing and it’s an incredible unit.

‘You’ve then got the arrogance of David Raya on the back, who’s incredible along with his feet but can be making some really crucial saves as well, in order that backline is looking really good.’

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