Is Viktor Gyokeres the missing piece in Arsenal's title puzzle, or just a 'flat-track bully'? This debate has sparked a fiery exchange between two football legends, and it’s dividing fans everywhere. Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker are at odds over the Swedish striker’s impact at Arsenal, and their clash highlights a deeper question: Does it matter who scores the goals, as long as they’re scored?
On Saturday, Gyokeres netted his fourth Premier League goal of the season in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Burnley, a team languishing in the bottom five of the table. This follows his previous strikes against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest—both also in the lower half of the league. But here’s where it gets controversial: Gyokeres has yet to find the back of the net against the Premier League’s heavyweights like Liverpool, Manchester City, or Manchester United. This inconsistency has led to accusations of him being a 'flat-track bully'—a player who thrives against weaker opposition but falters when the stakes are highest.
Gary Lineker, speaking on The Rest Is Football, didn’t hold back. While he stopped short of labeling Gyokeres a bully outright, he pointed out the striker’s struggle to deliver in 'big games.' 'He needs to do it in some of the big games,' Lineker remarked, though he acknowledged Gyokeres has had a 'reasonable start.' This critique echoes concerns from the striker’s time at Sporting Lisbon, where he scored an impressive 97 goals in 102 games but faced similar questions about his ability to perform against top-tier teams.
Rio Ferdinand, however, isn’t buying it. On Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former Manchester United defender passionately defended Gyokeres. 'Who cares if he is [a flat-track bully]?' Ferdinand challenged. He argued that Arsenal’s title aspirations don’t hinge on Gyokeres single-handedly dismantling the league’s giants. Instead, Ferdinand believes that consistently beating 'rubbish and average teams' is the key to winning the league. 'Most of the time, you lose your games when you don’t beat the teams you’re meant to beat,' he explained, citing Arsenal’s dropped points against smaller sides last season as a cautionary tale.
Ferdinand’s point is bold: If Gyokeres can dominate weaker teams while his teammates step up in bigger matches, Arsenal could very well lift the trophy. And the stats back him up—Arsenal currently boasts 11 different Premier League scorers, more than any other team. This goal-sharing approach, Ferdinand argues, is a recipe for success. 'If he can bully the rubbish teams and the average teams, I think you’re going to win the league,' he declared.
And this is the part most people miss: Historically, even the greatest Premier League strikers didn’t score the majority of their goals against the biggest teams. Winning the league often comes down to consistency against lesser opponents, not just heroics in high-profile matches.
So, is Gyokeres exactly what Arsenal needs, or is Lineker right to demand more? What do you think? Are Ferdinand’s arguments spot-on, or does Gyokeres need to prove himself against the league’s best? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over!
