Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal’s recent victory over Burnley at Turf Moor was marked by both triumph and concern as Viktor Gyokeres scored the opening goal but was later substituted due to an injury issue. The 27-year-old Swede, who joined the Gunners from Sporting CP for £64 million in the summer, has already netted six goals for the club. However, during halftime, Gyokeres “felt something,” prompting manager Mikel Arteta to take precautionary measures by substituting him.
Mikel Arteta said: “Yeah, before that I think he was one of the best games he’s played. I think overall his performance was exceptional. A part of the goal, and we had to take him off because he was feeling a little niggle. So we’ll have to wait and see.”
Arteta further elaborated on Gyokeres’ performance, highlighting his contributions on the field.
Arteta added: “Everything. His high press, his position and his touches. A lot. I think he was in a really good moment. It’s a shame that he felt something.”
The match also saw Martin Zubimendi being forced off with a muscular issue, adding to Arsenal’s injury woes. With upcoming matches against Slavia Prague and Sunderland, Arteta is hopeful for a swift recovery for Gyokeres to avoid a prolonged absence. Meanwhile, Arteta shared positive news regarding Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Noni Madueke, who are all on the verge of returning from injuries.
Arteta revealed: “I would say weeks, and some of them pretty soon, hopefully, if they keep evolving the way they are doing. Difficult to put a game, you know, that we have the international break, which is a two-week break there. And after that, I think we’ll have some back. I don’t know if it’s going to be all of them, some of them, but we’ll be quite close by then.”
Arteta expressed his excitement about the potential return of these key players, emphasizing the positive impact they will have on the squad.
He added: “Yeah, I’m excited because they are tremendous players. I see them work every single day, how desperate they are to be part of the team. The huge boost that is going to be for the squad to have and those players again, after such a long, long time, so really happy that I think it’s going to be very soon.”
If Havertz returns after the international break, he could feature against Tottenham on November 23, followed by a clash with Bayern Munich and a trip to Chelsea. The potential return of these players will provide Arteta with more options upfront, enhancing Arsenal’s attacking capabilities as they navigate a busy schedule.
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