Rio Ferdinand believes Viktor Gyokeres could flop in the Premier League following his £63million move from Sporting CP this summer.
Manchester United legend Ferdinand, 46, has urged fans to ‘calm down’ when it comes to their expectations of the 27-year-old Gyokeres.
Making his Premier League debut for the Gunners at Old Trafford on Sunday, the Sweden international failed to register a shot before he was substituted midway through the second half.
While Mikel Arteta’s side were able to hold on for a 1-0 win, they demonstrated some teething problems as Gyokeres spearheaded a new-look attack.
That prompted Ferdinand to temper expectations on his show Rio Ferdinand Presents: ‘Calm down. I’ve seen him live twice and I watched him [play for Arsenal against Man United on Sunday].
‘I haven’t seen enough to warrant his [price tag] given his performance against a dysfunctional Man United. 100%, I didn’t see it.’
That marked Gyokeres’ return to English football having previously had spells with Brighton and Coventry.
Ferdinand added: ‘I think you have to look at him and go “right, where is he best suited on the pitch, where do his attributes cause problems?”
‘If you look at the game in isolation, running the channels is something he looks good at and enjoys. He’s physically capable of doing that.
‘He’s still going to have to get fitter but.. at home or away, is running the channels going to suit his game?
‘I think [what Arsenal will ask of him] is when the ball gets into the penalty area, where are you going to find space to score goals and can you execute?
‘How many times do we see that Odegaard/Saka combination get to the byline and you just need a number nine to finish that chance off?
‘That’s where he is going to earn his money and that’s how he will be judged.
‘But you have to give someone time [to prove themselves] and you can’t judge someone after the first game.’
It comes after Ferdinand’s former England team-mate and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher revealed his belief that Arteta could leave Gyokeres out of the starting line-up during their biggest matches of the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher backed Gyokeres to be among the goals for Arsenal this season – after netting 54 in 52 games for Sporting last season – but suggested Arteta may turn elsewhere in the biggest matches.
‘If I’m being honest, I think they go back to Havertz in the biggest games, I think that will be the case. I can see Gyokeres playing and scoring goals,’ the former Liverpool defender said.
A surprised Gary Neville replied: ‘He can’t leave Gyokeres out of big games’, with Carragher doubling down by responding ‘he can’.
‘I think Havertz is too important a player for Mikel Arteta to be left out. I don’t see that happening at all.’
In response, Neville suggested that Arteta may have an alternative opinion in pairing Havertz and Gyokeres in the same set-up.
‘Arsenal needed a centre forward and brought one in, I saw glimpses that made me think he’ll be a handful,’ Neville said.
‘[Gabriel] Martinelli looks like he’s struggling, maybe getting Gyokeres and Havertz in together is something he has to try.’
