Gary Lineker's Viktor Gyokeres Theory Challenged by Rio Ferdinand
Viktor Gyokeres has scored all four of his Premier League goals against teams in the bottom five, prompting claims he is a "flat-track bully." However, Rio Ferdinand has disputed this notion following comments from Gary Lineker.
Lineker's Criticism
Gary Lineker recently commented on The Rest Is Football that Gyokeres needs to prove himself in high-profile matches. The Arsenal striker, 27, scored his fourth league goal in a 2-0 win against Burnley, a team among the league’s lowest ranks. His other goals were against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, also in the bottom five.
"I don't want to call him a flat-track bully, that's a bit unfair," said Lineker. "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."
Ferdinand's Counterpoint
Rio Ferdinand disagrees with Lineker's assessment, arguing that Gyokeres' ability to consistently perform well against lower-ranked teams can still contribute significantly to Arsenal's ambitions.
Ferdinand suggests that if Gyokeres continues "bullying the rubbish and average teams," it will help Mikel Arteta's side secure the league title.
Additional Context
Fans should note that Gyokeres, formerly of Sporting Lisbon and currently sidelined due to injury, impressed in the Champions League by scoring twice against Atletico Madrid.
Despite criticism for his lack of goals against top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, Gyokeres' contributions against weaker opposition remain valuable.
Author’s Summary
Despite criticism for only scoring against lower-ranked teams, Gyokeres' consistent performances against those opponents are seen by some experts as vital for Arsenal's title hopes.
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