Alan Shearer has praised one of Arsenal’s summer signings with the club top of the Premier League, but says Mikel Arteta still ‘paid too much for him’.
Following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Fulham, the Gunners are three points clear of Manchester City and four ahead of Liverpool following their 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
While we’re only eight games into the season, some believe the title race is already theirs to lose, with Arteta’s squad hailed as the best in the league following an impressive summer transfer window.
Arsenal spent over £255million on eight players with Martin Zubimendi and Cristhian Mosquera hitting the ground running, while others like Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have looked good but not hit full speed yet.
Another having a mixed start to life at the Emirates is Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored just three goals in 11 appearances since his £57m move from Sporting Lisbon.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
The Sweden striker has now failed to hit the back of the net in seven games, though has still earned praise for his work off the ball, and Shearer says he must do more to justify his transfer fee.
‘I think they’ve paid too much for him. I would say the same with Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United,’ the Premier League legend said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘He’s definitely going to have to score more goals. But I do think he brings something to the Arsenal team. One of his positives is that he runs in behind which then will help create space for others to exploit.
‘But there’s no doubt he’s going to have to improve his numbers with the goals because we said it last season, what Arsenal have needed, cried out for, is a goal scorer.
‘He’s only got three up to now, but they are looking really impressive as a team and I think he has added something different to the team.
‘Instead of coming short like Kai Havertz might or Mikel Merino might have, he offers something going the other way which then opens up a little bit of space.’
Gyokeres will have the chance to end his goalless run when Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, before Crystal Palace visit the Emirates on Sunday.
The former Newcastle striker later added: ‘Arsenal are brilliant, great defensively. Three goals conceded, that’s all this season.
‘That’s a huge, huge strength of theirs and obviously set pieces and another one won them the game. So, they’re looking really, really strong.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.