Published November 27, 2024 12:47pm Updated November 27, 2024 12:47pm
Rio Ferdinand was underwhelmed by Viktor Gyokeres during Sporting Lisbon’s 5-1 decision against Arsenal and sounded a informing to his galore admirers.
After scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City earlier successful the competition, the Sweden international’s estimation was sky-high up of past night’s acerb trial against the Gunners duplicate towers of powerfulness William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Gyokores endured a hard evening and his menace was extinguished by 2 defenders who relished the carnal battle.
The erstwhile Coventry striker besides suffered the ignominy of watching Gabriel mimic his trademark extremity solemnisation connected the changeable of half-time.
Chelsea, Manchester United and, indeed, Arsenal themselves person each been linked with a determination for a subordinate who has a £65 cardinal merchandise clause but Ferdinand fears helium flunked his audition.
‘His strengths played into the strengths of the 2 cardinal defenders helium was up against and that’s what he’d find successful the Premier League week successful week out,’ Ferdinand told TNT Sport.
‘Two large beardown centre halves the bulk of the time. Can helium woody with them?
‘It wasn’t until Gabriel went disconnected that helium really got a spot of joyousness against Kiwior, a subordinate who’s not arsenic large and not arsenic strong.
‘These 2 centre halve are the champion arsenic a concern and they didn’t springiness him an ounce the full game. He’s been crucifying teams successful those areas moving the channels, these guys look supremely comfy successful doing that.
‘Have I seen capable to accidental helium tin travel to the Premier League and beryllium a success? I’m not saying helium wouldn’t, but I’m saying you’d request to spot much than what we saw today.’
Fellow pundit and erstwhile Arsenal centre-half Martin Keown added: ‘Totally agree, but recognition to the Arsenal boys, they roseate to the situation and they are quick, strong, mobile and dealt with beauteous overmuch everything that came their way.
‘Kiwior came connected and had a small spot of an contented but helium wasn’t capable to bully them. They didn’t springiness him an atrocious batch of the shot but present helium was shooting aboriginal due to the fact that helium didn’t fancy taking connected Gabriel.
‘They showed their prime tonight.’
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