Arsenal star breaks rank as Mikel Arteta's comment on transfer target ignored

Arsenal person been tipped to motion Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, who'll look to adhd to his 24 goals this play erstwhile helium faces Mikel Arteta's broadside successful the Champions League

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has described Viktor Gyokeres arsenic a 'top player' aft brag Mikel Arteta tellingly refused to comment amid links of a big-money transfer to the Emirates.

Gyokeres, 26, has scored a singular 24 goals successful 17 games this play for Sporting Lisbon, who'll invited the Gunners to Portugal connected Tuesday for a Champions League clash. Arsenal are inactive lacking a earthy goalscorer, starring to speculation that Arteta could marque a determination for the Swedish striker during the January transportation window.

Raya would seemingly invited Gyokeres' arrival, saying portion sitting alongside brag Arteta astatine their pre-match property conference: "We cognize his strengths, however helium runs a batch successful down and scores a batch successful one-v-one and helium is simply a apical subordinate successful form.

"We are going to effort and support him very, precise quiet. Don't springiness him immoderate chances. We person to measurement up defensively. Hopefully we tin bash a large occupation and support a cleanable sheet."

Unlike Raya, Arteta remained tight-lipped erstwhile asked astir the erstwhile Coventry City star, alternatively choosing to absorption connected Sporting's 19-game unbeaten run. "I would similar to speech astir the team, astir the coaches and however phenomenal they person been," the Arsenal manager hailed.

"The tally they are successful is incredible. That tells you that it is not lone the quality, the setup, the ambition, it is thing astir the squad vigor that they have. That is simply a large situation that we person tomorrow, to travel present and marque a connection and amusement we are susceptible against this benignant of opponent. Be ourselves and triumph the game."

Pressed to speech astir Gyokeres, helium replied: "I recognize the question, but they person a batch of idiosyncratic qualities. That's wherefore they tin triumph games successful assorted ways. And yes, successful the circumstantial presumption they person large players."

Should Arsenal effort to motion Viktor Gyokeres successful January? Have your accidental successful the comments section.

Gyokeres memorably scored a hat-trick during Sporting's 4-1 triumph implicit Manchester City past month, 1 of 17 wins which the Portuguese champions person enjoyed this season. A big of Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Manchester United person been linked, with La Liga giants Barcelona besides reportedly interested.

Sporting president Frederico Vandaras doesn't judge that the 26-year-old volition permission Lisbon successful January. That's contempt reports that the nine are consenting to merchantability him for £63million, little than his merchandise clause. "I can't committedness anything. If a nine arrives and pays the merchandise clause, if helium wants to go, helium volition go," Varandas said. "But I bash not deliberation this volition hap successful January."

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