Declan Rice has defended Viktor Gyokeres following Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Bournemouth, insisting the Swede is ‘one of the best strikers in the world’ despite his goalscoring woes
Declan Rice has jumped to the defence of Viktor Gyokeres after Paul Merson claimed the Swede could cost Arsenal the title. The 26-year-old midfielder helped Mikel Arteta’s side to a 3-2 win against Bournemouth on Saturday to keep the Gunners at the summit of the Premier League.
The north London outfit came from behind to secure a vital three points in the title race, as Gabriel cancelled out Evanilson’s opener before Rice fired home a brace to put the Gunners 3-1 in front. Although Eli Junior Kroupi pulled one back for the Cherries, it didn’t impact the end result.
While Rice rose to the occasion and produced a Player of the Match performance, Gyokeres, meanwhile, struggled. Indeed, the 27-year-old forward failed to find the net once again and extended his barren run in front of goal.
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Gyokeres, who Arsenal brought in from Sporting CP during the summer for £64million, has managed just five goals in the top flight this season. Despite his underwhelming displays, Rice is convinced the Gunners cannot achieve their ambition of ending their 22-year Premier League title drought without the Sweden man.
The England international has insisted that opposition defenders swarm Gyokeres because he’s ‘one of the best strikers in the world‘. Rice said: “It’s tough for him, because he’s got two defenders on him all game, all over him.
“So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team and with my first goal, without him making that run from Gabriel Martinelli’s flick and holding it, setting it off to Martin [Odegaard], that goal wouldn’t happen.
“That was a pivotal moment in the game for us to turn the game on its head. I see how hard he hits a ball, and when that space arrives for him, and the ball’s arriving at his feet to score goals, he will 100 per cent score.”
Rice continued: “But at the minute, defenders in the Premier League want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he’s one of the best strikers in the world.
“Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us, and we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”
However, Merson hasn’t held back in questioning Gyokeres, insisting that Arsenal still need to bring in a ‘natural goalscorer’. Speaking on Sky Sports, the Gunners legend said: “Up front.
“I don’t think Arsenal have a natural goalscorer. Gyokeres has come in and is supposed to be that player, but I don’t think he’s a natural goalscorer.
“He’s never tapping balls in, he’s not got a lot of goals, fullstop. When it gets down to those last eight games, and it gets so nervy, you might need that something out of nothing.
“They need a natural goalscorer, and I think the nearest they have is Gabriel Jesus. He goes with Gyokeres before him, and I think he’ll go with [Kai] Havertz before him when he comes back. That’s the one for me.”
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