Rio Ferdinand believes Viktor Gyokeres, who joined the Premier League for £63 million from Sporting CP this summer, will struggle.
Manchester United icon Ferdinand, 46, has advised fans to ‘cool down’ about 27-year-old Gyokeres.
On his Premier League debut for the Gunners at Old Trafford on Sunday, the Swedish international failed to register a shot before being replaced midway through the second half.
While Mikel Arteta’s team held on for a 1-0 victory, they had some teething troubles as Gyokeres led a new-look attack.
That prompted Ferdinand to temper expectations, telling sports broadcaster Joel Beya on Cheeky Sport: “Calm down.” I’ve seen him live twice, and I watched him play for Arsenal against Manchester United on Sunday.
‘I haven’t seen enough to justify his [price tag] after his performance against a dysfunctional Manchester United.
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Gyokeres’ comeback to English football after spells with Brighton and Coventry.
It comes after Ferdinand’s former England teammate and fellow commentator Jamie Carragher expressed his concern that Arteta might keep Gyokeres out of the starting lineup during their most important matches of the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher predicted Gyokeres to be among Arsenal’s goals this season after scoring 54 in 52 games for Sporting last season, but said Arteta may look elsewhere in crucial games.
‘To be honest, I believe they will return to Havertz in the big games. “I can see Gyokeres playing and scoring goals,” the former Liverpool defender stated.
A stunned Gary Neville responded: ‘He can’t leave Gyokeres out of major games’, to which Carragher doubled down by saying ‘he can’.
‘I believe Havertz is too vital a player for Mikel Arteta to be overlooked. I do not see that occurring at all.
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