Rio Ferdinand disagrees with Gary Lineker over Arsenal's £64m 'flat-track bully'

Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker Debate Viktor Gyokeres' Impact at Arsenal

Gary Lineker believes Viktor Gyokeres must begin scoring against stronger opponents to shake the label of a "flat-track bully." However, Rio Ferdinand disagrees and is confident the striker will help Arsenal win the Premier League.

Viktor Gyokeres' Early Arsenal Career

Arsenal invested £64 million to bring the Sweden international from Sporting Lisbon. His initial performances have sparked mixed reactions among fans and experts. While his work rate, tenacity, hold-up skills, and ability to unsettle defenses are praised, his goal tally remains modest.

Flat-track Bully Debate

The term "flat-track bully" describes athletes who perform well only against weaker teams but fail in crucial matches. This label has been suggested for Gyokeres due to the clubs he has scored against.

“I don’t want to call him a flat-track bully, that’s a bit unfair,” said former England striker Gary Lineker on Rest is Football.

Despite this, Rio Ferdinand does not view Gyokeres' goal pattern as a problem and believes in his potential to lead Arsenal to the title.

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Gary Lineker on Gyokeres: “Viktor needs to start scoring against top teams.” Rio Ferdinand's stance: “He will win the Premier League for Arsenal.”

Author’s summary: Rio Ferdinand remains optimistic about Viktor Gyokeres’ role in Arsenal’s title pursuit, countering concerns raised by Gary Lineker over the striker’s scoring record against top opponents.

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Metro.co.uk Metro.co.uk — 2025-11-04

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