Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, and Theo Walcott have all praised Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres for his pivotal role in guiding the Gunners to the Champions League final. Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, winning 2-1 on aggregate to reach their first European final in two decades.
Gyokeres' Impact Without a Goal
Although Gyokeres did not find the net, his performance was instrumental. His intelligent run behind the defence initiated the move that led to Bukayo Saka's decisive goal. Sturridge highlighted Gyokeres as the standout player on the pitch, saying, "Myles Lewis-Skelly was brilliant, controlling the tempo, and Declan Rice was excellent. But Viktor Gyokeres, for me, was the best player for Arsenal."
Sturridge elaborated: "He caused numerous problems and relieved pressure on the defence. When you launch the ball up top, you wonder: can it stick? Can he hold it up? Can he advance us up the field? He did it all. Those are the performances that define top players. He has been questioned all season about goals, but tonight's performance showed exactly why he signed for the club."
Walcott and Rooney on Gyokeres' Work Rate
Theo Walcott was impressed by how Gyokeres moved the central defenders into uncomfortable positions. "He ran into the channels all day, and as a centre-half, you don't want to go out there. He takes players into positions where they are uncomfortable. The centre-halves today will never have a harder game, ever," Walcott added.
Wayne Rooney praised the "dirty work" Gyokeres has done throughout the season. "He has been under pressure this season, and he may not be as pleasing on the eye as some other centre forwards, but what he does is all the dirty work. That is so important to the team. He didn't get his goal tonight, but he played a massive role in Arsenal winning this game," Rooney said.
Arteta's Final Word
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta summed up Gyokeres' contribution: "He was immense. You could see the reaction of the crowd. His work rate and what he does for the team are incredible."
