Viktor Gyokeres continues to divide opinion at Arsenal despite his strong numbers.
The Swedish striker has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season, more than any other player in Mikel Arteta’s squad. Yet, he still faces criticism whenever he fails to find the net.
However, inside the Arsenal dressing room, the story is completely different. Gyokeres’ teammates clearly value what he brings.
Eberechi Eze is one of those players, and he has now explained why the striker has been so important.
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Eberechi Eze says Viktor Gyokeres inspires him at Arsenal every game
Gyokeres has quickly established himself as a key figure in this Arsenal side, not just because of his goals but also because of his mentality.
The way the Swede approaches every game has clearly had an impact on those around him.
Eze has revealed that the striker’s work rate and attitude are infectious, so much so that even he has been inspired by him.
The Arsenal number 10 said, as relayed on HaytersTV: “Yeah, he’s a good guy, man. He’s a very good guy. He’s a special character and a special player.
“He’s someone who will give everything, everything on the pitch, and you can see how willing he is to leave everything on the pitch and for me, that’s inspiring, and that’s the type of people that you want to be around because it’s infectious.
“When you see him working, it makes you want to work. And, of course, he’s a killer when it comes to finishing, so you know that if he has a chance, he’s going to take it.
“So, yeah, massive, massive help to the team. He’s someone who is a leader, and, yeah, we trust him massively.”
That level of praise highlights just how respected Gyokeres is within the Arsenal first-team squad.
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Viktor Gyokeres’ work rate should not be ignored
Gyokeres was brought in to score goals, and he has delivered 18 so far this season, which is a strong return.
It is fair for Arsenal fans to expect even more, but judging him purely on goals misses the bigger picture.
Gyokeres’ work rate is outstanding, and he constantly presses, runs and fights for the team. That kind of effort, as Eze said, is contagious and helps raise the level of everyone around him.
It also explains why Arteta continues to trust him and start him regularly, even when the criticism is loud.
Arsenal fans should recognise the work Gyokeres does for the team a lot more than they already do. He deserves enormous praise for that.
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