Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, has raised concerns over whether Arsenal’s new signing, Viktor Gyokeres, can adapt to the tactical demands of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Gyokeres, who clinched the Golden Boot in the Primeira Liga last season with an impressive 39 goals, played a pivotal role in Sporting Lisbon’s title-winning campaign.
However, Scholes believes the Swedish striker may struggle to transition into a possession-heavy system like Arsenal’s.
Speaking during The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes expressed reservations about the striker’s ability to adjust from a counter-attacking style to the intricate movement and spatial awareness required at a club like Arsenal.
“At Sporting, especially in European matches, Gyokeres was thriving on the counter-attack,” Scholes explained. “But Arsenal dominate possession, they don’t play in transition that often. The question is, can he adapt to making clever runs, staying sharp in tight spaces, and combining effectively in the final third?”
Scholes compared Gyokeres to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, highlighting the intelligence in movement that Isak brings to his team.
“We’ve seen Isak do it brilliantly. But Gyokeres? A lot of his goals come from bursting forward from the halfway line, overpowering defenders and smashing it in. That’s not always possible in the Premier League, especially at a club like Arsenal,” Scholes said.
Despite Gyokeres’ outstanding goal tally, the former England international hinted that the striker’s success might depend on how quickly he can evolve to suit Arteta’s high-possession, high-pressing approach.