Paul Scholes raises Viktor Gyokeres suspicion as he points out problem for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal finally secured the services of a striker this summer by signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, but Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has his doubts about the move

Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has questioned whether Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta even wanted new striker signing Viktor Gyökeres. Scholes also fears that the Swede may not adapt well to the Gunners’ high levels of possession.

After struggling without a bona fide No. 9 for some time, Arsenal finally completed a deal for Sporting CP star Gyökeres last month, snapping him up after a summer of speculation for roughly £64million.

The Gunners fought off competition from Premier League rivals United for the 27-year-old, but Red Devils legend Scholes has now questioned whether head coach Arteta wanted the player, and whether Gyökeres will prosper in light of Arsenal’s high-possession playstyle.

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“[Arsenal needed a] Centre forward, I just wonder if you’ve chosen the right one,” Scholes declared on The Overlap Fan Debate. “Because there was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing about it, I wondered if Mikel Arteta really wanted him, as the main one he wants? I’m not too sure, and he’s got him now.

“He’s had a really strange career path – Brighton, Coventry, and then he’s gone to Sporting Lisbon and his goal record is absolutely brilliant – you can’t take it away from him.”

Gyökeres netted a staggering 97 times in 102 matches for Sporting in all competitions over the past two seasons, but Scholes doubts whether the Gunners’ style of play suits him.

“If there’s any team that he could go to and create chances, then it should be Arsenal and it should be a really good match,” continued Scholes.

“The only thing I’d say against Gyökeres really is that with Sporting Lisbon, he’s probably playing on the counter-attack a lot, in Europe especially.

“You think of Arsenal, they have the ball an awful lot, is he going to be clever enough to make these runs in behind? A lot of him that you see, he’s sprinting from the halfway line almost.

“You can’t keep up with him, he’s ramming people, he’s quick and he’s smashing the ball in. Is he going to be that clever striker – we know Isak can do that. Can Gyökeres do that?”

One player who thinks that Gyökeres will fare well at the Emirates is club captain Martin Odegaard, who sang his new team-mate’s praises during Arsenal’s pre-season visit to Hong Kong.

“I think you’ve all seen what he’s done in his career so far,” claimed Odegaard. “Especially the last season at Sporting, the numbers speak for themselves. He’s a very complete player. He’s physical, strong, fast, good finisher and intelligent as well.

“I think he’s a very complete striker and you can also see the hunger, the energy he brings. I’m really excited to have him with the team. He’s only trained a few times, but you can already see the quality, the energy, and the willingness. I’m excited to have a pitch with him.”

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