Arsenal transfer target Viktor Gyokeres’ incredible season continued on Sunday night.
The Swedish number nine scored four times for Sporting as they beat Boavista 5-0, bringing his tally for the campaign to 52 goals in all competitions.
The Lisbon side sit top of the Primeira Liga with three matches remaining, although they’re level on points with chasing Benfica, and the two sides still have to play each other.
Arsenal Insider revealed last week that Gyokeres is Arsenal’s most likely striker signing, and the likes of Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta certainly would’ve been impressed with the player’s latest exploits.
Portugal’s media heap praise on Arsenal transfer target Viktor Gyokeres
Portugal’s media have raved about Gyokeres in the past, and they were stunned by what they saw him produce against Boavista.
The 26-year-old scored a hat-trick inside the opening 50 minutes, before adding a fourth in stoppage time, with all four goals coming from relatively close range.
Now on 38 goals in 30 league games for Sporting this season, Gyokeres’ output has well and truly exploded this term.
Awarding the Sweden international with a nine out of ten and the man of the match award for his performance, A Bola wrote: “Let’s try not to use any adjectives, which will most likely be a first. He scored goals 49, 50, 51 and 52 and, by one point, he now leads the race for the Golden Boot: 57 to Salah’s 56 (Liverpool), although he has scored 38 goals to the Egyptian’s ‘only’ 28.
“He scored his second poker goal for Sporting, after having scored the first in November, against Estrela da Amadora. In the first goal, the ball came off Maxi’s left foot and, guided by a remote control, reached Gyokeres’ left foot.
“The rest was the usual story: deflection and goal. Less than six minutes had passed. Shortly after (12′), the ball came off Maxi’s left foot again and, once again, went to Gyokeres. This time in the air. And boom, an almost perfect bicycle kick from the Swede.
“To be perfect, the ball would have to go into Boavista’s goal, but Vaclik stopped it without much effort. And, as it would be written in the Bible, Gyokeres rested in the 15th minute. And he returned in the 33rd minute, once again receiving a pass with his left foot, this time from Trincão, to head the ball wide.
“Finally, in the first half’s stoppage time, Trincão found Gyokeres a little on the left. A typical move from the Swede: he ran, ran, ran, faced his opponent, in this case Abascal, passed to the right, shot and scored. Nothing to do.
“And at the start of the second half, in the 50th minute, a goal with his second best fingerprint, running away on the right and shooting at Vaclik’s goal, with a shot between the Boavista goalkeeper’s legs.
“Then, he entered another, let’s say, strange period, with two missed goals, completely alone against Vaclik (57′ and 72′). Finally, at 90+2′, he received the ball from the very supportive Harder and closed the gap for the final 5-0, putting the poker in his pocket.”
What Rui Borges said about Viktor Gyokeres after Boavista goals
Taking 10 shots and accumulating 2.7 expected goals, Gyokeres found himself in dangerous positions excellently throughout the match.
It’s clear to see why Berta is a huge admirer of Gyokeres, with his immense physicality and movement inside the penalty area clearly elite attributes he possesses.
Speaking after the Boavista match, Sporting manager Rui Borges described Gyokeres as ‘the best striker in Europe’.
“Since he’s been feeling 100% physically, he’s been giving an incredible response,” he said.
“There are no adjectives for him. He’s the best striker in Europe. There are no words to describe what he gives to the team and what the team gives to him.
“He’s given a lot to the team and the team knows that. More than the goals, I like to feel him connected to his behaviour, both offensively and defensively.
“y. In the first half, he tried to cancel out Boavista’s exit or Boavista’s connection . It’s very important for me to feel him connected at all times during the game”
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