Sporting CP head coach Rui Borges has offered his opinion on why Viktor Gyokeres struggled early on at Arsenal. Gyokeres, who netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, made the switch to the Emirates in a deal worth £64 million last summer.
Arsenal hoped Gyokeres would become one of the top goal-scorers in the Premier League, helping them end their title drought that stretches back to over two decades. However, the Sweden international has scored just 11 league goals so far this season.
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After a slow start to his career in England, Gyokeres is now gearing up to face his former team Sporting in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The first leg of the contest will be played in Lisbon tonight (Tuesday).
Ahead of Gyokeres’ return to Sporting, Borges pointed to how Arsenal fans were initially ‘suspicious’ about what the striker could do at the Emirates. The Sporting boss then went on to claim that Gyokeres has already shown signs that he will be successful at the Emirates in the future.
Borges was quoted as saying by The Metro:
“I believe in the initial stage he had to adapt, given the style of play, and how Arsenal plays. But he is still a great forward and now he is back to what he does well which is scoring goals.
“During the first stage, the fans were suspicious given what they paid for him, but little by little the truth came to the surface and he is a really great player and he will keep scoring goals.”
Gyokeres pushed Sporting hard to leave the club last summer, with the player refusing to turn up for pre-season training. It remains to be seen whether the home fans forgive Gyokeres for his antics when they see each other again tonight.
Arsenal in desperate need of strong reaction after back-to-back cup losses
Over the last couple of weeks, Arsenal have lost the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup quarter-final to Manchester City and Southampton, respectively. The Gunners’ quadruple dream has been snatched from their hands and Mikel Arteta will want his team to bounce back at the earliest.
The north Londoners have a nine-point lead in the Premier League title race. But Arsenal still need to face Manchester City, who also have a game in hand, at the Etihad later this month. Amid all the questions raised about his team’s mental strength, Arteta will be determined to quash any sense of disbelief.
The trip to Sporting offers the perfect chance for them to bounce back. If they can get a convincing win to kill the tie before the return leg, they are in a great position. Another win over Bournemouth this weekend could restore some lost confidence after their back-to-back losses in the cups.
Edited by Nived Zenith
