Rio Ferdinand believes Viktor Gyokeres may flop within the Premier League following his £63million transfer from Sporting CP this summer time.
Manchester United legend Ferdinand, 46, has urged followers to ‘settle down’ relating to their expectations of the 27-year-old Gyokeres.
Making his Premier League debut for the Gunners at Previous Trafford on Sunday, the Sweden worldwide did not register a shot earlier than he was substituted halfway by the second half.
Whereas Mikel Arteta’s facet had been in a position to maintain on for a 1-0 win, they demonstrated some teething issues as Gyokeres spearheaded a new-look assault.
That prompted Ferdinand to mood expectations on his present Rio Ferdinand Presents: ‘Settle down. I’ve seen him reside twice and I watched him [play for Arsenal against Man United on Sunday].
‘I have not seen sufficient to warrant his [price tag] given his efficiency in opposition to a dysfunctional Man United. 100%, I did not see it.’
Rio Ferdinand has claimed Viktor Gyokeres may flop within the Premier League following his £63million transfer from Sporting CP this summer time
The Sweden worldwide did not register a shot earlier than he was substituted halfway by the second half at Previous Trafford on Sunday
That marked Gyokeres’ return to English soccer having beforehand had spells with Brighton and Coventry.
Ferdinand added: ‘I feel you need to have a look at him and go “proper, the place is he greatest suited on the pitch, the place do his attributes trigger issues?”
‘In case you have a look at the sport in isolation, operating the channels is one thing he seems to be good at and enjoys. He is bodily able to doing that.
‘He is nonetheless going to should get fitter however.. at residence or away, is operating the channels going to swimsuit his recreation?
‘I feel [what Arsenal will ask of him] is when the ball will get into the penalty space, the place are you going to search out house to attain objectives and may you execute?
‘What number of occasions can we see that Odegaard/Saka mixture get to the byline and also you simply want a quantity 9 to complete that probability off?
‘That is the place he’s going to earn his cash and that is how he might be judged.
‘However you need to give somebody time [to prove themselves] and you’ll’t choose somebody after the primary recreation.’
Jamie Carragher subsequently revealed his perception that Arteta may depart Gyokeres out of the beginning line-up throughout their largest matches of the season
The previous Liverpool defender argued that Kai Havertz may usurp him in Arteta’s first-choice staff for crunch encounters
The German was launched off the bench to exchange Gyokeres after an hour on Sunday
It comes after Ferdinand’s former England team-mate and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher revealed his perception that Arteta may depart Gyokeres out of the beginning line-up throughout their largest matches of the season.
Talking on Sky Sports activities, Carragher backed Gyokeres to be among the many objectives for Arsenal this season – after netting 54 in 52 video games for Sporting final season – however urged Arteta might flip elsewhere within the largest matches.
‘If I am being trustworthy, I feel they return to Havertz within the largest video games, I feel that would be the case. I can see Gyokeres enjoying and scoring objectives,’ the previous Liverpool defender mentioned.
A stunned Gary Neville replied: ‘He cannot depart Gyokeres out of massive video games’, with Carragher doubling down by responding ‘he can’.
‘I feel Havertz is simply too vital a participant for Mikel Arteta to be ignored. I do not see that taking place in any respect.’
In response, Neville urged that Arteta might have an alternate opinion in pairing Havertz and Gyokeres in the identical set-up.
‘Arsenal wanted a centre ahead and introduced one in, I noticed glimpses that made me suppose he’ll be a handful,’ Neville mentioned.
‘[Gabriel] Martinelli seems to be like he is struggling, possibly getting Gyokeres and Havertz in collectively is one thing he has to strive.’
