Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has been backed by former striker Jeremie Aliadiere to hit the ground running in his second season in North London
Viktor Gyokeres has been backed to start his second season “on fire” for Arsenal after the Premier League winner hit 21 goals in his first season in North London. Former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere believes that the Swede has learned a lot after making the £63.5million move from Sporting CP in the summer.
Gyokeres was forced straight into the starting eleven, with both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus spending close to half of the entire campaign out with serious injuries. “I think he’s had a very good season,” Aliadiere said, speaking exclusively to football.london.
“I know he’s had quite a lot of criticism along the way, but I think 21 goals for a first season in a new club, new country, new league, you know, I think it’s very good. I think it’s been a season of learning, I think a learning season for him, learning to play for a new club, a new system, a different way of playing.”
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Gyokeres would win and score a vital penalty during the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid. He scored twice away at Tottenham, twice at home to Sunderland and twice at home to Fulham as his numbers accelerated after the winter period.
“I do feel in the second part of this season, you saw a massive improvement in terms of obviously goals, numbers, but impact in games,” the former Arsenal striker said. “I think other players have started learning as well for the first six months, learning how to play with Viktor and to use him in the best way.
“So, yeah, I do feel it’s been a very good season, very positive.”
There is plenty of speculation regarding how Arsenal might set up next season, with key interests in strengthening their attacking options. However, Aliadiere believes that rather than a steady improvement with a strong second half of the campaign, next season Gyokeres will kick off in an explosive way.
“For next season, I expect him to have an even better season because I do feel that the first one was a bit of a learning season, where you learn and still score 21 and end up being champion. I think it’s a pretty good learning season. So I expect him to really, you know, start next season on fire and have an even better season.
“The confidence will be there. So, I’m expecting a big thing from him next season.”
One of the players linked with a move to the club is Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, with some valuations as high as £90million. Aliadiere, like the 19-year-old, is a former student of Lorient, and believes he is capable of playing with the likes of Gyokeres.
“I think the beauty with Kroupi is he’s not a typical number nine. He’s a forward in my eyes. So he can play, he could even play behind Viktor or behind Kai or even as a winger.
“He could play on the left side and come in on his right foot. I think he’s shown this season that he’s got the whole package.”
