Louis Saha is surprised Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres in the summer transfer window and says the striker is ‘definitely not a skilful player’.
Gyokeres has scored three goals across his opening four Premier League games since joining Arsenal from Sporting CP in July.
Arsenal have paid an initial fee of £55m for the Sweden international, potentially rising to £63.5m with add-ons.
‘For Viktor Gyokeres, it will take time [to settle at Arsenal],’ former United striker Saha told Flashscore bookmaker offers.
‘I’m surprised in some way – because he is definitely not a skilful player.
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‘Arsenal [previously] went to Gabriel Jesus, who was able to [create his own chances] a bit, then Arsenal almost played with no strikers.
‘Now they have Mikel Merino, who is similar to Kai Havertz. But Gyokeres is definitely a striker [who] can definitely score goals.
‘He has a direct profile that Arsenal are not well known for. It can work. You can see that Arsenal have not played as good football as we know them, that’s probably the way Mikel Arteta wants to play.
‘Gyokeres is the solution for that. So I do think that the fans may look at things differently.
‘They still have wingers who don’t cross the ball as much, so I’m a bit surprised.’
Alan Shearer, meanwhile, has backed Gyokeres to score ‘a shed load of goals’ this season – but insists his Arsenal teammates need to provide him with early service.
‘I think to get the best out of him he’s going to need early balls into the box,’ Shearer told Premier League Productions after Arsenal’s win over Nottingham Forest in their last top-flight match.
‘I highlighted at half time when they have too many touches perhaps, this (Eberechi Eze’s assist) is a great example of not doing that.
‘It’s a wonderful ball over the top but the hardest part is for the winger to put that on a plate for Gyokeres, first time ball, early ball, that’s exactly what he demands.
‘If Arsenal continue to do that… they still didn’t get the balance right as I said at half time, but I thought it was a little bit better in the second half when Riccardo Calafiori whipped one or two early balls in.
‘He’ll get a shed load of goals if they keep on getting balls into the box early.’
Gyokeres scored an incredible tally of 97 goals across 102 games for his former club Sporting CP.
For Sweden, the 27-year-old has found the back of the net 15 times in 28 matches.