Rio Ferdinand disagrees with Gary Lineker over Arsenal's £64m 'flat-track bully'

Rio Ferdinand Disagrees with Gary Lineker over Arsenal's £64m Striker

Gary Lineker believes Viktor Gyokeres must start scoring against "top teams" to avoid the label of a "flat-track bully." However, Rio Ferdinand is confident that the striker will lead Arsenal to the Premier League title.

Gyokeres' Performance Overview

Arsenal acquired the Sweden international from Sporting Lisbon for £64 million. His early displays have caused mixed reactions among fans and experts. While many praise his work-rate, tenacity, hold-up play, and ability to unsettle defenses, Gyokeres has only scored six goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.

Criticism and Praise

In the Premier League, Gyokeres' four goals have come against teams struggling at the bottom of the table: Leeds, Nottingham Forest, and Burnley. This has led some to brand the 27-year-old as a "flat-track bully," a term for athletes who perform well against weaker opponents but falter in big matches.

“I don’t want to call him a flat-track bully, that’s a bit unfair,” said former England striker Gary Lineker on the Rest is Football podcast.

Ferdinand's Viewpoint

Contrary to Lineker's cautious stance, Rio Ferdinand dismisses concerns about Gyokeres' effectiveness against top teams and predicts he will be pivotal in Arsenal's title challenge.

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Summary: Despite mixed reactions to Viktor Gyokeres' early goal-scoring record, experts differ, with Rio Ferdinand confident the striker will be crucial in Arsenal's Premier League title bid.

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Metro.co.uk Metro.co.uk — 2025-11-04

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