Viktor Gyokeres has divided opinion ever since joining Arsenal.
The Swedish striker arrived with huge expectations after his incredible goalscoring exploits before moving to north London.
While Gyokeres has had some brilliant moments this season, many supporters and pundits still feel he has not scored enough goals for Arsenal.
However, Wayne Rooney has consistently defended the Arsenal forward throughout the campaign, and he has had to face some criticism because of the same.
Be honest: Did you think Viktor Gyokeres would join Arsenal when Gabriel mocked him with this celebration?
Wayne Rooney says his praise for Viktor Gyokeres has led to criticism all season
Viktor Gyokeres’ overall impact at Arsenal has often gone under the radar because people are judging him purely on goals.
While his numbers have not matched Erling Haaland’s, the Swede has transformed the way Arsenal attack.
Gyokeres’ movement, physicality and ability to occupy defenders have created huge spaces for players around him. That has benefited attacking players like Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka in recent weeks.
Rooney believes many people have failed to properly appreciate what Gyokeres actually brings to Arteta’s side. The former England captain also revealed he has faced criticism all season for defending the Arsenal striker.
Rooney said, as per The Metro: “I’ve said this all season, and I have been criticised for saying it, but I actually really like him. What he brings to that Arsenal team is that he occupies defenders.
“He makes them work, he makes them defend, he runs the channels.
“And what we’ve seen recently is that it’s creating more space for Eze and for Saka – because if one, or both centre-backs have to go and cover him and then the full-back has to cover round, when you switch the ball quickly, it creates so much space for everyone just in behind him.
“Over the last few weeks, he has been showing that even more and if Arsenal go on to win the league and the Champions League, he’ll be a major reason behind it.
“Because that’s where Arsenal have been short in the last few years.
“I know he hasn’t scored the goals Haaland has scored, but he has been really important for that Arsenal team, and he will be a major factor if they do win the two of them.”
If you could give one advice to Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal right now, what would it be?
Viktor Gyokeres has proven his doubters wrong
There is no question that Gyokeres still has areas of his game he can improve. However, the criticism aimed at him for much of the season now looks incredibly harsh.
Arsenal finally have a striker capable of physically dominating defenders and creating chaos for the players around him.
That has added a completely different dimension to Arteta’s attack.
The recent improvement in Arsenal’s overall attacking fluidity is not a coincidence.
Gyokeres may never score 50 goals a season for Mikel Arteta, but his tally of 21 is a fantastic return so far, and he may yet hit 25 before the end of the season.
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