Former Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer, has stated that Arsenal is nearing the achievement of something the club has never accomplished before: winning a double.
Arsenal is on the verge of clinching both the Champions League and the Premier League in a single season.
The Gunners triumphed over Atletico Madrid with a 2-1 aggregate score, securing their spot in the final of this season’s competition, while also maintaining a five-point lead at the top of the EPL standings.
In a discussion on Prime Video, Shearer specifically commended the ‘exceptional’ Viktor Gyokeres.
The semi-final matchup was finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in Madrid last week, with little separating the teams at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Bukayo Saka delivered the pivotal moment, being the first to react to a save by Jan Oblak, nudging home the crucial goal that propelled Arsenal to Budapest.
Shearer acknowledged that Arsenal was not at their peak during a tense evening in north London, yet he was impressed by their fighting spirit against Diego Simeone’s Atletico.
The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, Shearer, was particularly taken by the performance of striker Gyokeres, who caused significant trouble for the Atletico center-backs and contributed to Arsenal’s winning goal.
Gyokeres, who transferred to Arsenal for £64 million last summer, did squander a golden opportunity to secure the tie, but Shearer remained impressed with the Sweden international.
The England icon remarked on Prime Video, “Aside from that miss, his play as a center forward has been outstanding.
“His off-the-ball movement, his ability to hold up play for his team, enduring challenges throughout the night, and making runs… he has truly been exceptional.
“This is precisely the type of performance his team required from him and a foundation to build upon. He provided Arsenal with so much this evening.
“They are incredibly close to making history now; they have one final and three league matches to achieve something this club has never done before: win an extraordinary double.”