Arsenal and Sweden hero Anders Limpar has played down the criticism of Viktor Gyokeres following his Premier League debut, but reckons he can replicate Haaland when match fit and backs him for a brace against Leeds this weekend.
Speaking exclusively to BOYLE Sports, the former Premier League midfielder also gave his thoughts on Arsenal’s squad balance and why he believes criticism of Martinelli to be harsh.
He also explained why he fears for Sweden if Alexander Isak can’t get his situation sorted out soon, and why Elanga is a great signing for Newcastle.
Viktor Gyökeres
Gyokeres Debut
Viktor wasn't bad. He was okay. He had a couple of good touches, but he looked a little nervous; but he will improve.
Man United were the better side, Arsenal had such a defensive tactic, so to speak, but Viktor will improve with match fitness.
Gyokeres: The Next Haaland?
I can compare him to Erling Haaland. When I watch City play, he’s not even there for the 90 minutes, and then the next game he scores three, and then it goes two games, and you can’t even see that he’s playing.
Haaland can disappear from the game. Viktor might be the same kind of player. He can probably knock in a hat-trick in the next game. He is like Erling Haaland. To come in as a new player to a new team, you need to settle in. But when you play for the big teams, you have 15 minutes to settle in, or the criticism comes!
Now we’re talking about him pulling his fingers through his hair. Whatever! It’s ridiculous. You have to look at what he’s doing on the pitch, and while he didn’t have a good game, he will for sure score at least 20 goals.
You can’t not score 20 goals if you have Madueke, Martinelli, Saka, Odegaard, Rice, Zumbimendi and the rest supporting you. Imagine if he takes the penalties! He will definitely score six, seven goals there for sure, and then I reckon it could be more than 20 goals.
Winning vs Performance
Winning vs Performance
It is the way to win the Premier League in one sense.
To get the first game out of the way, to play the first game of the season in the Premier League away to Man United, which is not an easy game wherever they are in the league, it would have been good to get a point from it, so to win a game like that, it’s massive.
Other teams will have to play United away, and they looked really good. Arsenal are going to have to play a little bit more attacking football, sure, but I’m not bothered about the way they played or how good the game was, so long as they won. I think Mikel Arteta is very, very pleased with the three points.
It was a good slow start and a good win away against United, and I think that you win the Premier League playing defensively in those kinds of games against Liverpool away, City away, United away and Chelsea away. I think it’s a good approach in these games and a good tactic to start the season.
Arsenal's Squad
Arsenal’s Squad Balance
It is in our DNA, so to speak. When I played back in the 90s, we were very defensive, but we played some unbelievable attacking football as well.
The team this year and for the last few seasons has been solid; it’s unreal. We have one of the best goalkeepers, best back fours and best midfields in Europe. If you don’t let goals in, the front guys will produce for sure! I mean, you can’t keep Madueke, Martinelli, Saka, Gyokeres and Havertz from scoring.
Martinelli Criticism “Unfair”
I think it's a little bit unfair to say that about Gabriel Martinelli because, at one stage of the season, Arteta must have told him to get back more. He was attacking, he was scoring and producing crosses and still chasing back. You can see he was chasing back all the way to his own defence, and in that sense, he helped Arsenal so much that you can't just turn around and complain that he's not having the end product.
In my opinion, I think it's a little bit unfair the criticism he gets. He's a good player, but imagine yourself if you're a starter and suddenly Arsenal fans are screaming for a new winger. That's not fun to hear if you're a player.
Madueke has come in. There’s talk about Eze. That can’t be good for Martinelli’s confidence. He did tremendous work for the team defensively. You can’t have it all. I like him as a player.
Alexander Isak
“Sad” Isak Situation
I think it is sad for the club and for him that he can't just work it out. Newcastle need a player like Isak. Sweden needs a player like Isak for sure. I really hope that they will settle the deal that he is staying or leaving. If he does stay at Newcastle, he's going to have a huge task to get the fans back on the side again. Fans are burning his jersey. It's not funny.
I’m not even sure what’s happened there. If he was promised to leave, we don't know anything about it. If it comes to the point where he has to play, then he has to be professional about it, and he has to just play.
Newcastle Need Isak
Look at Kai Havertz when he came to Arsenal. The whole Emirates wanted to kill him, and suddenly he’s a favourite.
It's up to the players to turn everything around if he's going to play, and I really hope that he will play because we need him. We need him in Sweden, for sure, and I think Newcastle need him as well.
Anthony Elanga
“Prospect” Elanga
Elanga is a prospect. He can settle in quite quickly at Newcastle because he knows the Premier League, he knows the business, and it could be a slow start for a couple of teams.
City are bombing on. Tottenham are bombing on. Nottingham are bombing on. Newcastle didn’t win because they couldn’t score without Isak, but I’m not afraid of Elanga’s form.
He is going to produce chances for the Newcastle strikers, whoever they will be.
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