Viktor Gyokeres scored his seventh goal of the season as Arsenal beat Everton on Saturday, but the £64million summer signing's performances have drawn criticism
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates
Viktor Gyokeres buried Arsenal's penalty to give them the win at Everton
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Wayne Rooney has praised Viktor Gyokeres for the unselfish and unheralded work he does for the team after the Arsenal striker's form attracted some criticism. Gyokeres scored the Gunners’ winning goal at Everton on Saturday, but he remains a divisive player for many pundits.
The £64million summer signing stepped up and smashed a penalty past Jordan Pickford after Jake O’Brien was penalised for handball inside the box. It proved to be the only goal of the game as Arsenal held on to win 1-0 and move back above Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Gyokeres now has seven goals in 20 appearances for Arsenal following his transfer from Sporting Lisbon, but his five league goals have come against Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Burnley and from the spot against Everton. That has led some to question his impact for Arsenal, given his all-round contribution hasn’t been great against stronger opponents.
Jamie Redknapp believes Gyokeres is struggling with the physicality of the Premier League, while Gary Lineker compared him unfavourably to Manchester City star Erling Haaland, who has plundered 19 goals in the league already. But Manchester United legend Rooney has reiterated his support of Gyokeres, saying he shouldn’t be judged just by his goals.
“It creates a little bit more space for other players. So I think he is important for Arsenal. He's doing a job for Arsenal which helps other players. He just hasn't got the goals which you'd expect from him,” he said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
“He'll certainly help if that's what they go on to do and win the title. Like last season we've seen the ball going out wide and Declan Rice was actually the one who was going to be that presence in the penalty box for Arsenal and doing probably a bit more work than he had to because they lacked that number nine last season. And that's what I mean about where he is giving other players a bit more space.
“You maybe don't see it, it's not eye-catching, but he does occupy the centre-back. So I think he's doing a job for Arsenal. Can he be better? Of course he can. Should he score more goals playing in that team? Yeah, he should. But I think if Arsenal go to win the league, then he'll have had a big role to play, definitely.”
Wayne Rooney speaking in November 2025
Wayne Rooney has given his verdict on Viktor Gyokeres' recent performances
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However, Rooney did criticise Arsenal’s process after they won the penalty at Everton, with both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka stepping aside to let Gyokeres take it. “Your penalty taker is your penalty taker for a reason,” he added. “You should be the one to take the penalty.
“And I completely get it. I've given penalties to people who need the goal. But we've been 3-4 nil up. At 0-0? I know he's number nine and you're a goal scorer, you're doing it for confidence. But your penalty taker should be the one to take the penalty – in a big game away from home when you're going to try and win the league. I think, thankfully from Arsenal's point of view, he scored.”
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