Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has revealed the Arsenal star he would "love to play with" despite maintaining reservations about the player's overall quality. The comments come after Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby, a result that keeps Mikel Arteta's side flying high at the Premier League summit.
Scholes' Mixed Assessment of Gyokeres
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes offered a nuanced take on Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored twice in Sunday's crucial victory. While the former England midfielder questioned whether the Swedish international possesses the elite finishing quality of legendary strikers like Ruud van Nistelrooy or Andy Cole, he emphasized the attributes that make him a valuable teammate.
"I think you'd love to play with him," Scholes stated. "He works his socks off, he occupies defenders. Has he got the quality of a Van Nistelrooy or an Andy Cole? Probably not, but you're pleased for him yesterday."
Gyokeres' Growing Influence at Arsenal
The summer signing from Sporting CP has now reached 15 goals across all competitions this season, with 10 coming in Premier League action. After a slow start to his Arsenal career following his move from Coventry City, Gyokeres appears to be finding his rhythm at precisely the right moment for the title-chasing Gunners.
Scholes couldn't resist adding some context to Gyokeres' derby performance, noting: "He was probably playing against the most disorganised defence you've ever seen, that'll help him." The United legend also suggested Arsenal "struggle big time" against teams that sit deep in organized defensive shapes.
Teammates and Pundits Echo Praise
Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze, who also scored twice in the derby victory, supported Scholes' assessment of Gyokeres' work ethic. "He helps the team, not just with his goals but the effort he puts in," Eze explained. "It gets players like me in the best positions and it helps a lot. He's got his two goals today which he deserves."
Former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt acknowledged the criticism Gyokeres has faced while highlighting his finishing against Tottenham. "He's had a lot of pressure on him," Butt noted. "He must have had a load of stick off Arsenal fans about forwards, the forwards they've had. Looking at his two finishes yesterday, he hit them as clean as a whistle."
Neville's Verdict on Performance
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville offered perhaps the most glowing assessment, calling Gyokeres' derby display "his best moment of the season." Neville elaborated: "Not just because he scored two in a game against the biggest rivals and had a wonderful celebration with the Arsenal fans, but because his general performance from start to finish is what you would expect from him."
The victory comes at a crucial juncture for Arsenal, who had drawn their previous two matches against Brentford and Wolves before the morale-boosting derby triumph. With the title race intensifying, Gyokeres' continued development could prove pivotal in Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League glory.
