Alan Shearer heaped praise on Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres following the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Gyökeres impressed with his work rate and hold-up play while playing the full 90 minutes of the clash at the Emirates. The Swede, although he did not find the net, was instrumental in Bukayo Saka’s goal, which gave Arsenal a 2-1 aggregate win across two legs.
Speaking after the match, Shearer lauded Gyökeres’ overall performance, describing it as ‘exceptional’, and added that he offered the Gunners so much in the contest.
“Apart that miss his centre forward play has been superb,” Shearer told Amazon Prime. “His running off the ball, his hold-up play for his team, taking knocks all night and making runs… he really has been exceptional. It’s exactly the type of performance his team needed from him and something to build on. He offered Arsenal so much tonight.”
The former Sporting CP man also earned praise from former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge, who said he was the best player in the match.
“The drive and tenacity of the players [is what impressed most],” Sturridge said. “Lewis-Skelly was brilliant, controlling pace and the play. But Gyokeres was the best player tonight for me. He took so much pressure off the defenders, when you launch it up top thinking can it stick, can you hold it up for us?”
Gyökeres joined Arsenal last summer and has so far registered 24 goal contributions in 51 appearances across all competitions.
“He was immense” – Mikel Areta on Gyökeres after Arsenal’s victory over Atletico Madrid
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also had nothing but praise for Gyökeres, highlighting the striker’s work rate and overall contributions on the night. Gyökeres repeatedly tormented Atletico’s defense with his movement and physicality.
“He was immense. You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he had the ball, his work rate and what he's giving the team is just incredible,” Arteta told Amazon Prime.
When asked to assess this team’s defense, Arteta could not help but also mention Gyökeres’ defensive contributions.
“It's immense. You talk about Gyokeres and he's the first one to set the tone, the rhythm, and the habits that he shows when we don't have it [the ball] and that's a team effort.”
It is the Gunners’ first appearance in the Champions League final since 2006. They will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest on May 30.