A legendary goalscorer has weighed in on Viktor Gyokeres and his goal drought after Arsenal reached the top of the Premier League table heading into the international break
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal sit pretty at the Premier League summit as the international break beckons following their commanding 2-0 demolition of West Ham.
Emirates faithful were delighted to witness talisman Bukayo Saka find the back of the net against the Hammers on Saturday. Saka had been sidelined with a hamstring problem picked up early in the campaign, but his return has helped propel his team to the top on 16 points, edging champions Liverpool by a single point.
Arteta’s troops coasted to victory courtesy of Saka’s spot-kick, which followed Declan Rice’s opener, while emerging English prospect Max Dowman has caught the gaffer’s eye with his under-21s display. Gary Lineker has also weighed in on Viktor Gyokeres’ north London beginnings.
Here;s all the latest news from the Emirates.
Gary Lineker heaps praise on Viktor Gyokeres
Swedish frontman Gyokeres has netted three times for the North Londoners since his £64million summer arrival from Sporting CP.
However, plenty have questioned the 27-year-old’s performances, and he has failed to score in his last five games in league and cup, reports the Mirror.
England legend Lineker reckons Gyokeres offers Arteta’s outfit a fresh dimension, though. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: “I think that even though he’s not banged loads of goals in yet, but he’s got his fair share, Gyokeres, I think he gives them something different.
“He gives them a threat behind, which creates more space for the midfield and even the wide players, and he’s aggressive with his running and he likes to spin and he attacks the space in the box.
“The goals will come for him because with the service that I think he’ll inevitably get, particularly now Saka is back in the mix and looks like his old self after his injury.
“So I think it’s quite promising for Arsenal, I think we might be in this season for a really good title race.”
Dowman delivers message to Arteta in under-21 display
Max Dowman made his bow for Arsenal against Leeds United earlier this campaign and appears to be the latest emerging talent from north London.
He wasn’t included in the squad that took on West Ham on Saturday, as he was instead featuring for Arsenal’s under-21 side in their own encounter against the Hammers. This fixture finished 2-2.
The 15-year-old found the net once more and sought to show to Arteta that he’s ready for senior responsibilities with a stunning solo effort.
Dowman collected the ball in the opposition’s territory and switched it expertly from his left foot to his right before slotting home a strike from outside the area.
When the international break wraps up, Arteta might reconsider leaving the teenage prodigy out of his first-team squad as they visit Fulham at Craven Cottage.
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