Alan Shearer has praised Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres for his performance against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
The Swede opened the scoring early on at Turf Moor, nodding home from close range after Declan Rice’s corner had been diverted back into the danger area by Gabriel Magalhaes.
This was his sixth strike of the season for the Gunners, and set them on their way to a comfortable victory which saw their lead at the top of the Premier League table extend to six points.
Gyokeres was then forced off at half-time with a muscular injury, and it’s not yet been made clear what the full prognosis is.
Alan Shearer praised Viktor Gyokeres’ work rate
Arsenal fans were raving over Gyokeres’ performance against Burnley.
The 27-year-old was deployed up front with Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard supporting him, and he led the line expertly.
Providing the Gunners with a more physical focal point than usual, he was also excellent in his combination play.
Mikel Arteta revealed that Gyokeres will miss Arsenal’s clash against Slavia Prague, which will certainly be a concern for the Spaniard.
The North Londoners have grown accustomed to playing with the Sweden international, whose relentless pressing has become a fundamental facet of Arteta’s team’s game.
Speaking on Premier League Productions (via Stan Sports), ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer lauded Gyokeres’ work rate, something he claimed he usually doesn’t highlight.
“I thought his performance in the first half was the best we’ve seen in an Arsenal shirt,” the pundit said.
“I thought he was aggressive, his work rate, I’m not one to praise work rate, it should come automatically as a footballer, but the way he closed down, he showed a great attitude, that’s why Arsenal signed him to score from one or two yards.”
Arsenal cannot cope without Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz won’t be available until after the November international break, meaning Arsenal may have neither of their recognised strikers for games against Slavia Prague and Sunderland.
Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard can both fill in as unconventional number nines, but neither can offer what Havertz and Gyokeres can.
The German is excellent at pinning defenders, holding the ball up and bringing others into play, while his pressing work is also outstanding.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres is also an extremely effective presser, as Shearer alluded to, and his movement in behind is better than anyone else’s in Arsenal’s squad.
Without the two centre-forwards, the Gunners will have to adjust significantly to the makeshift striker they do pick in their next two matches, and this will likely have consequences for their level of performance.
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