Jamie Carragher Reverses Stance on Arsenal's Gyokeres After North London Derby Heroics
Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has publicly admitted he was mistaken about Arsenal's summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, following the Swedish striker's outstanding performance in Sunday's emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
From Doubts to Praise: Carragher's Complete Turnaround
Carragher revealed he previously believed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should have dropped Gyokeres from the starting lineup, fearing the £64 million signing from Sporting Lisbon might "cost" the Gunners their Premier League title challenge. The Sweden international had managed just five league goals during the first half of the season, struggling to replicate the prolific form that saw him score nearly a goal per game in Portugal.
"I felt they had to come away from Gyokeres and I thought at some stage it might cost them," Carragher confessed during his Sky Sports analysis. "A few times I was quite surprised that Gyokeres was still in the team."
Gyokeres' Remarkable Transformation Since New Year
The 27-year-old striker has undergone a dramatic transformation since the turn of the year, contributing eight crucial goals for the league leaders. His recent resurgence culminated in a match-winning brace during Sunday's dominant north London derby display, which extended Arsenal's lead at the Premier League summit to five points.
Carragher was particularly impressed with Gyokeres' mental fortitude, drawing comparisons to Premier League legend Alan Shearer. "There's no lack of confidence with him, he just gets the ball and bangs it in," Carragher observed. "It's Alan Shearer-like, that sort of mentality."
Arteta's Faith Rewarded in Crucial Derby Victory
The Liverpool icon credited Arteta for maintaining faith in his expensive summer acquisition despite the striker's initial struggles. "Credit the manager," Carragher emphasized. "The manager has stuck by him week after week and the strength he showed in this game was very Alan Shearer-like."
Arteta himself heaped praise on his striker after the comprehensive victory, stating: "He was outstanding today. There have been glimmers of it every week but today, I thought he was fantastic." Regarding the title race, the Arsenal manager added: "This is the Premier League, it will go all the way for sure. Ten games in the Premier League is a long way."
From Manchester United Target to Arsenal Hero
Gyokeres, who was previously linked with Manchester United before his move to North London, has now firmly established himself as a key component of Arsenal's title challenge. His performance against Tottenham represented what Carragher described as "the best we've seen Gyokeres play in an Arsenal shirt," with the pundit particularly impressed by what he called "an absolutely fantastic finish."
While Carragher stopped short of declaring Gyokeres a world-class striker, he acknowledged the forward's potential importance to Arsenal's championship aspirations. "He could be vital," Carragher concluded, "and fair play to the manager because he's kept him in and he's repaid him in one of Arsenal's biggest games of the season."
