Arsenal forked out £67million to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting this summer, but concerns have been raised about the striker after his performance against Liverpool
Arsenal have been sent a warning about new signing Viktor Gyokeres after his "quiet" performance against Liverpool on Sunday. Gyokeres completed a £67million move to Arsenal from Sporting earlier this summer, having scored 97 goals in 102 games in Portugal.
The 27-year-old bagged a brace in Arsenal's 5-0 win over Leeds, but struggled to make much of an impact in clashes with Manchester United and Liverpool. And former Premier League manager Alan Pardew is "concerned" about Gyokeres' start to life at the Emirates.
Speaking on talkSPORT after Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, Pardew said: "Can I tell you what I'd be concerned about if I was an Arsenal fan? Gyokeres, so far.
"I'm looking at him and thinking, 'I want a bit more from you!' Sporting is different because it's a different kind of culture and Sporting was a great team that he was in and he was always going to get goals there.
"But when he was at Coventry, he looked looked quick down the side of the pitch, proper quick. Now, in the Premier League, he didn't look quick today did he?
"There was times when he had the march and didn't get past the centre-backs. It's a concern whether this kid can step up and be this number nine that Arsenal have been waiting on for three years.
"There is a lot of pressure on him and I really hope he does crack it, but I thought today he was quiet." Gyokeres failed to take a single shot against Liverpool and also completed just five passes.
And United legend Rio Ferdinand was also left concerned by the striker's performance, stating on his YouTube channel: "Gyokeres has been disappointing today hasn't he?
"He made one good run in the channel and he played someone in, but against power, quick, strong centre-halves, he doesn't look like he can bully them, and I need to see more.
"If he can't bully them with strength or pace, what's next? Does he have the nous to get a yard in the box? I haven't seen it yet."