This summer Arsenal finally insured the services of a striker by signing Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, but Manchester United Paul Scholes has his doubts about the move
Manchester United icon Paul Scholes wondered if Arsenal -Baas Mikel Arteta even wanted new striker that Viktor Gyökeres signed. Scholes also fears that the Swede may not adapt well to the high level of possession of the gunners.
After struggling for some time without a bona fide no. 9, Arsenal finally completed a deal for the sporty CP star Gyökeres last month and broke him up after a summer of speculation for around £ 64 million.
The Gunners fought the competition of Premier League-Rivalen United for the 27-year-old, but Red Devils-legend Scholes has now wondered if head coach Arteta wanted the player, and whether Gyökeres will bloom in the light of Arsenal's high position Playstyle.
“[Arsenal needed a] In the middle, I just wonder if you have chosen the right one, “said Scholes about the overlapping Fandebat.” Because there was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing, I wondered if Mikel Arteta really wanted him, as the most important he wants? I don't know for sure and he has him now.
“He has had a really strange career path – Brighton, Coventry, and then he went to Sporting Lisbon and his goal record is absolutely brilliant – you can't take it from him.”
Gyökeres delivered 97 times amazing in 102 games for sport in all matches in the past two seasons, but Scholes doubts whether the playing style of the Gunners suits him.
“If there is a team where he could go and create opportunities, then it should be arsenal and it should be a good match,” Scholes continued.
“The only thing I would say to Gyökeres is that with Sporting Lisbon he will probably play a lot on the counterattack, especially in Europe.
“You think of Arsenal, they have the ball a lot, will he be smart enough to make these runs behind? Many of him you see, he almost sprints from the halfway line.
“You can't keep up with him, he rammes people, he is fast and he beats the ball. Is he that smart striker – we know that Isak can do that. Can Gyökkeres do that?”
A player who thinks Gyökeres will be doing well with the Emirates is club captain Martin Odegaard, who sang the praise for his new teammate during the preview of Arsenal to Hong Kong.
“I think you have all seen what he has done so far in his career,” Odegaard claimed. “Especially the last season at Sporting, the figures speak for himself. He is a very complete player. He is physical, strong, fast, good finisher and intelligent.
“I think he is a very complete striker and you can also see the hunger, the energy he brings. I am really excited to have it with the team. He has only trained a few times, but you can already see the quality, the energy and the willingness. I am excited to have a pitch with him.”