Wayne Rooney has heaped praise on Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, calling the Swedish striker a "major factor" in the Gunners' pursuit of a historic Premier League and Champions League double this season.
Arsenal are closing in on their first Premier League title since 2004, and they've already secured a spot in the Champions League final. At the heart of this charge is Gyokeres, a £64 million summer signing from Sporting Lisbon who has overcome a rocky start to become a key figure in the squad.
Early on, the Sweden international struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just three goals in his first 11 appearances and enduring a 10-game drought without a goal from open play. But Gyokeres has since rediscovered his lethal touch, netting five times in his last nine matches and earning widespread praise for his all-around contributions to Arsenal's impressive winning streak.
With 21 goals across all competitions this season, Gyokeres has already matched the debut-season feats of Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Ian Wright by reaching the 20-goal mark. While he still trails Manchester City's Erling Haaland by 16 goals in the Premier League, his impact goes far beyond the scoresheet.
Speaking on SkyBet's The Overlap EFL Fan Debate, Rooney—himself a prolific scorer with 208 Premier League goals for Manchester United and Everton—shared his admiration for the striker. "I've said this all season and I've been criticised for saying it, but I actually really like him," Rooney said. "What he brings to that Arsenal team is that he occupies defenders. He makes them work, he makes them defend, he runs the channels."
Rooney highlighted Gyokeres's tactical importance in creating space for playmakers like Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. "If one or both centre-backs have to go and cover him, and then the full-back has to cover round, when you switch the ball quickly, it creates so much space for everyone just in behind him," he explained.
Rooney concluded with a bold prediction: "Over the last few weeks, he has been showing that even more. If Arsenal go on to win the league and the Champions League, he'll be a major reason behind it—because that's where Arsenal have been short in the last few years."