Arsenal told to ditch ‘flat-track bully’ as £64m flop ‘lacks class’ to win Premier League title
Sam Cooper Viktor Gyokeres reacts after missing a chance for Arsenal in the Champions League
Michael Owen believes Arsenal should get rid of ‘flat track bully’ Viktor Gyokeres as he lacks the ‘class’ needed to be a top level Premier League player.
It is only five months since Gyokeres signed for Arsenalin a £55million deal but it already looks as if the London side have overpaid as the striker has scored just five league goals in 19 matches.
He was anonymous again against Liverpoolwith the Swede having just eight touches before being hooked just after the hour mark and it was that game that prompted Owen to suggest the Gunners were better without him.
“We were on the pitch four or five minutes before kick-off and we were discussing him,” Owen said on Premier League Productions. “I said then, ‘The jury is out’, and I still feel the same way at the moment,”
“Fortunately for Arsenal, they’ve got lots of other players who can score goals.
“They wanted him to put the finishing touches on this team and they’re probably still searching for that person.
“If the Champions League final was tomorrow night, I’m not sure he would start.
“They will continue and persist with him, of course, because they paid so much money, you want to give him all the chances.
“And do you know what? Against Burnley, against Nottingham Forest, against Everton, whoever it might be, he probably is going to score a lot of goals, he can finish, he will be in the box.
“But to win these games [against Liverpool], you need a bit of class, you just need a bit of class and that’s just where he lacks.”
MORE ON ARSENAL ON F365 *?Arsenal: Ornstein reveals Saka is ‘finalising agreed’ deal; another Gunners star makes transfer decision *?Arsenal targeting ‘ideal player’ from Real Madrid for January transfer move *?Gabriel Martinelli reveals apology to Conor Bradley as he explains actions after controversial shove
Owen’s assertion that Gyokeres could score goals against teams lower down the table and not the top end caused him to label Gyokeres a “flat-track bully” and a player who would not make the difference in big games.
“There’s a bit of a saying, a flat-track bully, I think he could be that type,” Owen said.
“Playing at home against lesser teams, he’ll score one, two, maybe even the odd hat-trick, he’ll take penalties, at the end of the season you’ll look at it and probably think ‘Do you know what, he’s got into double figures, not a bad return’.
“However, when you look closely at it, did he make a difference in the big games, the ones where you really need your big players? And sadly so far, only half the season gone, it’s a no, and as I say, the jury is definitely still out.”
Owen continued:?“They [strikers] are not easy to find. You look in the Premier League at who people have signed over the last season, [Benjamin] Sesko, okay, scored a couple last night but he’s not hit the ground running, Gyokeres, not really.
“The Premier League teams are bringing some of the best players on the market from around the world and not many are hitting the ground running.
“There’s a dearth of centre forwards in world football at the moment. Players like Gyokeres scoring dozens and dozens of goals in a season in Portugal, bring him to the Premier League and it’s a different ball game. There’s not many out there.
“I feel sorry for Mikel Arteta in a way in that he knows that was a problem and you search around the world, you’ve got a big pot of money to spend, what are the options… there are not many options around as you can quite clearly see. It’s not an easy position to fill at the moment.
“As we all know, Arsenal have done so well that it’s probably being papered over the cracks at the minute, but the bottom line is the jury is out, I’m not sure he is the long-term answer.”
READ NEXT:?Big Weekend: Man United v Brighton, Thomas Frank, Chelsea, Gabriel Jesus, Saudi Clasico
Arsenal Michael Owen
Related Articles
Editor F365
Arsenal star ‘called out’ as Spurs handed ‘huge boost’ and World Cup ‘nightmare’ emerges
Liverpool are eyeing not one but two stars to replace Mo Salah while an Arsenal star has been ‘called out’ and Spurs get a ‘boost’.
Mediawatch Viktor Gyokeres Lewis Oldham
Carragher tells Arsenal to replace summer signing as he reveals ‘worry’ for CL – ‘it’s not clicked’
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has told Arsenal to sign a replacement for summer signing Viktor Gyokeres and has revealed another “worry”.
Arsenal Jamie Carragher Joe Williams
Owen claims £74m signing is ‘not the answer’ for Man Utd; left ‘astounded’ by Carrick news
Former Man Utd striker Michael Owen is sure that Benjamin Sesko is “not the answer” and will not be their striker “forever and ever”.
Manchester United Benjamin Sesko Joe Williams
Arsenal make ‘first offer’ of £43m for Gyokeres replacement as ‘top priority’ becomes clear
Arsenal have made their ‘first offer’ to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane ahead of the summer, according to reports.
Arsenal Viktor Gyokeres Lewis Oldham
Mikel Arteta told to snub Arsenal star vs Man City and start ‘real handful’ in Carabao Cup final
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has been told to start a “real handful” against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal Kai Havertz Joe Williams
Lineker urges Arteta to drop Arsenal star ahead of Champions League match vs Leverkusen
Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker reckons Kai Havertz would be a better choice than Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal going forward.
Arsenal Gary Lineker
Latest Football News
Tottenham player-manager one of seven interim ‘options’ to replace Igor Tudor
Ben Davies Harry Redknapp
Tottenham next manager timeframe revealed after Tudor exit as ‘Spurs man’ backed
Igor Tudor
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor exit and tease ‘new Head Coach’
Igor Tudor Roberto De Zerbi
‘Not Harvard English’ – Toni Kroos confused by Geordie accent as brother Felix hails Newcastle ‘summer’
Toni Kroos
Hungary manager hits out at Arne Slot ‘nonsense’ after telling Liverpool boss ‘not to interfere’
Arne Slot Mailbox
Man Utd ‘in purgatory’ under Carrick as Klopp ‘logic’ dispels top replacement doubts
Michael Carrick
Carrick in or out? Man Utd would be stupid to rush manager decision
Michael Carrick Popular
Rashford, Foden, Gordon to Liverpool proposed as Salah debate rages on
Mohamed Salah Popular
Mo Salah is no Luis Suarez; the Liverpool fan verdict is in
Mohamed Salah Popular Premier League Table Full Table
#
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
View More
Mediawatch
Arsenal star ‘called out’ as Spurs handed ‘huge boost’ and World Cup ‘nightmare’ emerges
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal face summer ‘transfer conundrum’ as Mo Salah ‘dream club’ revealed
Mohamed Salah Popular
Salah exit prompts ‘genuine concern’ about Premier League as two Liverpool mysteries solved
Mo Salah Popular
Arsenal season starting to unravel as ‘injury crisis’ hits at ‘worst possible time’
Copyright Notice: The content of this article is contributed by Internet users. The views only represent the author. This site only provides information storage services and does not own ownership or bear relevant legal responsibilities. If you find any suspected infringement or illegal content, please contact us. We will delete it immediately after verification.