Former England striker and prominent pundit Gary Lineker has identified a crucial flaw in the game of Arsenal's summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, suggesting it is the primary reason for the Swede's underwhelming start to life in the Premier League.
The High-Priced Gamble That Hasn't Paid Off
Arsenal secured the services of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP in the summer of 2025 for a substantial fee of £55 million, a price justified by his phenomenal goalscoring record in Portugal. However, the transition to English football has proven challenging. The 27-year-old has managed to find the net just five times in 16 Premier League appearances, a return that has left fans and analysts questioning his impact.
Lineker's Diagnosis: A Striker's Reluctance
Speaking on his popular podcast, The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker offered a detailed technical analysis of Gyokeres' performances. Lineker believes the forward is being too reactive, waiting to see where the ball is going before making his move, a trait more commonly associated with defenders.
"I've watched him quite closely the last few weeks and I think he's like most strikers - he waits to see where the ball’s going, waits until it's crossed and then attacks the space," Lineker said. "That's what defenders do."
He contrasted this with the approach of elite goalscorers, emphasising the importance of anticipation. "As a striker you got to gamble on where you think the ball might go and you go just as they're about to cross it. You steal a march on the defender that way... I don't see him doing that very often."
The Calvert-Lewin Blueprint
To illustrate his point, Lineker pointed to the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United, who has scored in six consecutive matches. He highlighted a specific goal against Sunderland as a perfect example of the proactive movement Gyokeres is lacking.
"He didn't wait and see where it was going to go," Lineker explained. "He went right, pulled away and then he sprinted at the near post and hoped that the ball would be delivered there and it was."
Lineker namedropped the world's best – Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Robert Lewandowski – as strikers who consistently make these intelligent, pre-emptive runs. The key question is whether this instinct can be taught. Lineker is optimistic: "Is it something you can learn? I've always thought yes, because it's actually common sense... it's law of probability."
The analysis places the spotlight firmly on Gyokeres and the Arsenal coaching staff. With a significant investment made, the pressure will be on to unlock the striker's potential by encouraging a more daring, gambling approach in the final third, as championed by one of England's greatest ever forwards.
