Viktor Gyokeres forces sudden U-turn as Arsenal sent clear Premier League title message

Viktor Gyokeres has forced Gary Lineker into a sudden U-turn as he told the Arsenal forward to start scoring more. The Sweden international moved to the Gunners for an initial £55m during the summer transfer window from Sporting CP.

He became Mikel Arteta’s sixth summer signing following the arrivals of Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke. But despite his arrival being met with much fanfare, Gyokeres has only scored three times in 11 appearances so far this season.

Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday evening, but Lineker believes Gyokeres needs to 'start scoring' if Arsenal are to realise their ambitions this season and win the title.

“I think for Arsenal to really realise their ambitions, he’s going to have to start scoring a lot of goals,” he told . “I think it’s a big spell coming up for him over the next few games.”

Lineker’s view is a U-turn on what he said about the forward at the start of this month. The former England international claimed that Gyokeres was bound to start scoring following Bukayo Saka’s return to action, and instead of focusing on his lack of goals, praised his all-round game and threat.

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“I also think that even though he’s not banged loads of goals in yet, but he’s got his fair share, Gyokeres, I think he gives them something different," he said.

“He gives them a threat behind, which creates more space for the midfield and even the wide players, and he’s aggressive with his running and he likes to spin and he attacks the space in the box.

“The goals will come for him because with the service that I think he’ll inevitably get, particularly now Saka is back in the mix and looks like his old self after his injury.

“So I think it’s quite promising forArsenal. I think we might be in this season for a really good title race.”

Newcastle United forward Alan Shearer, meanwhile, believes the Gunners overpaid for Gyokeres. He said: “I think Arsenal paid too much for him. I would say the same with Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United.

“He’s definitely going to have to score more goals. But I do think he brings something to the Arsenal team. One of his positives is that he runs in behind, which then will help create space for others to exploit.

“But there’s no doubt he’s going to have to improve his numbers with the goals because, as we said it last season, what Arsenal have needed, cried out for, is a goalscorer.

“He’s only got three up to now, but they are looking really impressive as a team and I think he has added something different to the team.

“Instead of coming short like Kai Havertz might or Mikel Merino might have, he offers something going the other way, which then opens up a little bit of space.”