Gary Lineker gets his brutal Viktor Gyokeres theory torn apart by Rio Ferdinand

Gary Lineker's Claim About Viktor Gyokeres Challenged by Rio Ferdinand

All four of Viktor Gyokeres' Premier League goals this season have come against teams in the bottom five, prompting some to label Arsenal’s £64 million striker a “flat-track bully.”

"I don't want to call him a flat-track bully, that's a bit unfair," said Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football. "The criticism that people perhaps would say is that what he did in Portugal, he didn't really score many goals against the top teams, and so far his goals have been against Burnley, Forest and Leeds. He needs to do it in some of the big games, but I think he's had a reasonable start."

The 27-year-old Swede netted his fourth Premier League goal in Arsenal’s 2–0 away win over Burnley last Saturday. His other strikes came against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, all current bottom-five clubs. So far, he has failed to score against stronger sides such as Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, which led to some criticism of his performances in high-profile fixtures.

Rio Ferdinand disagreed with Lineker’s assessment, stating that if Gyokeres continues “bullying the rubbish and average teams,” Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will still have what it takes to win the title.

Supporters also point out that before his injury, Gyokeres managed to score twice against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, showcasing his ability to perform on bigger stages.

Author’s Summary

Gary Lineker questioned Viktor Gyokeres’ output in big matches, but Rio Ferdinand countered, claiming consistent goals against weaker teams can still power Arsenal’s title hopes.

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The Mirror The Mirror — 2025-11-04

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