Arsenal sent clear message as Viktor Gyokeres agreement reached after barren run

Gary Lineker and Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson have both given similar praise to Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres amid his impressive start to the season. The Gunners star has hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium following his summer switch from Sporting Lisbon.

Gyokeres' future was a major talking point before the striker sealed a £63.7million (€75million) move - including add-ons - from Sporting to Arsenal in the summer, and he's already scored three goals for the Gunners this term. Despite not yet matching his prolific scoring record from his Sporting days, though, the 27-year-old is still earning rave reviews for his performances in north London and beyond.

Lineker is among the latest to heap praise on Gyokeres. And he's explained why he's confident the frontman will soon find his scoring boots again.

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"I think that, even though he's not banged loads of goals in yet, Viktor Gyokeres gives them something different," said Lineker on the latest episode of the Rest is Football podcast.

"He gives them a threat in behind, which creates more space for the midfield and even the wide players, and he's aggressive with his running and he likes to spin and he attacks the space in the box.

“The goals will come for him because of the service he will inevitably get, particularly now Bukayo Saka is back in the mix and looks like his old self after his injury.

"So I think it's quite promising for Arsenal, I think we might be in for a really good title race this season."

Lineker's assessment was backed by Tomasson, who will link-up with Gyokeres when the striker joins Sweden's squad for their upcoming international fixtures. The national team manager outlined why Gyokeres remains influential even when he's not finding the back of the net, highlighting how his displays benefits his teammates.

"Viktor Gyokeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good," said Tomasson this week. "If people say he doesn't have an impact [in matches], then they don't understand football and don't have a clue about football.

"He creates space for other players, works on the ball and makes runs. It's excellent and he scores goals almost all the time, so he has an impact and has been very good. It's always nice, as you need time when you come to a new club."

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