Sol Campbell has backed Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres to turn into ‘great’ once his teammates have a greater understanding of his movement.
Gyokeres has largely struggled within the Premier League since joining Arsenal from Sporting CP in a deal price £64m in the summertime transfer window.
The Sweden international has only registered one goal across his last 10 appearances within the top-flight.
But speaking ahead of Arsenal’s next match, a visit to Everton on Saturday, former Gunners centre-back Campbell has defended Gyokeres, declaring that the 27-year-old is ‘built’ for the Premier League.
‘Once they (his teammates) understand Gyokeres’ movement and once he gets in control with the quickness and the cut and thrust of the Premier League, he might be great,’ Campbell told Paddy Power.
‘He’s built for the Premier League, and his teammates have to know the runs he makes, feeding him the ball when he’s in the suitable position for him.
‘Every centre-forward desires to be fed in alternative ways.
‘What Thierry Henry wanted was different to Freddie Ljungberg and was different again for Jose Reyes or Dennis Bergkamp.
‘Gyokeres is a special player and you could have to feed him in the way in which prefers to get the most effective out of him.’
Martin Keown expressed concerns over Gyokeres’ fitness levels after his quiet performance in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Wolves last week.
Paul Scholes, meanwhile, believes Mikel Arteta was pressured into signing Gyokeres in the summertime window because he was ‘last striker available’.
Rio Ferdinand says Gyokeres might have to work on his understanding with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard to finish his barren spell in front of goal for Arsenal.
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‘There are two or three things I take a look at with Gyokeres that he needs to know,’ Ferdinand said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel earlier this week.
‘His movement… I feel they’d 30 crosses in, the second-most they’ve had, and I’m watching him when the ball is wide.
‘I’m not saying he’s got terrible movement. I’m just saying you have to understand who’s on the ball.
‘[Depending on] who’s on the ball, you progress in a different way.
‘If [Martin] Odegaard’s on the ball, he’s going to maneuver in a different way to when Saka’s on the ball and vice versa, but I just don’t think there’s that telepathy yet.
‘There’s not that understanding there, that I’ve got to maneuver here when Saka’s there.’
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