Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing an anxious wait over the fitness of striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Swedish forward was forced off at halftime during the club’s victory over Burnley on Saturday.
Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from Sporting CP in a £64 million summer transfer, continued his impressive start to life in North London by opening the scoring at Turf Moor, registering his sixth goal of the season. Declan Rice added a second to seal the points for the Premier League leaders, but the win was overshadowed by injury concerns surrounding the striker.
The 27-year-old did not return for the second half, with Arteta later revealing that Gyokeres had experienced some discomfort during the interval. The manager explained that the decision to substitute him was precautionary, as the medical staff preferred not to take any risks. However, the exact extent of the issue remains unclear, and Arsenal’s medical team will assess him further in the coming days.
Arteta praised Gyokeres’ overall contribution before his withdrawal, highlighting his pressing, link-up play, and movement off the ball. The manager described the forward as being in excellent form and admitted it was disappointing to lose him when he was performing at such a high level.
Arsenal’s victory was also marred by another setback, with midfielder Martin Zubimendi forced off due to a muscular problem. The potential double injury blow comes at a crucial stage of the season, with important fixtures against Slavia Prague and Sunderland on the horizon before the November international break.
Despite these concerns, Arteta received a boost with news that Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Noni Madueke are all nearing a return to full fitness. Havertz, who has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery after the season opener, is reportedly in the final stages of recovery. Odegaard and Madueke are also progressing well and could return to action shortly after the international break.
Should Havertz regain fitness in time, he could make his comeback in the North London Derby against Tottenham on November 23. His return would be a timely boost, offering Arteta a strong attacking option should Gyokeres’ injury prove more serious than first feared. With several players close to returning, the Arsenal boss remains confident that his squad has enough depth to maintain their title challenge.
