Declan Rice has defended Viktor Gyökeres amid scrutiny of the striker’s recent lack of goals, insisting Arsenal would not be leading the Premier League without his contribution.
Rice spoke after Arsenal’s record-setting 3-2 win away at Bournemouth, a result that made it five consecutive league victories and increased their lead at the top of the table after Man City dropped another two points, this time against managerless-Chelsea.
The Sweden international has scored in four of his 18 Premier League appearances this season and has seven goals in all competitions, a return that has drawn a lot of unfair media criticism based on his prolific record before arriving from Sporting Lisbon. Rice was clear, however, that Gyökeres’ value to the team cannot be measured solely in goals.
“It’s tough for him, because he’s got two defenders on him all game, all over him,” Rice said.
“So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team and with my first goal, without him making that run from Gabriel Martinelli’s flick and holding it, setting it off to Martin Odegaard, that goal wouldn’t happen. That was a pivotal moment in the game for us to turn the game on its head.”
Rice added that Gyökeres’ reputation alone shapes how opponents approach Arsenal.
“I see how hard he hits a ball, and when that space arrives for him and the ball’s arriving at his feet to score goals, he will 100 per cent score.
“But at the minute, defenders in the Premier League want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he’s one of the best strikers in the world.
“Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us, and we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”