Arsenal Hit by Gyokeres Injury Ahead of Crucial Champions League Clash
Arsenal’s attacking options have suffered another blow as manager Mikel Arteta confirmed striker Viktor Gyokeres will be unavailable for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Slavia Prague.
The Swedish forward, who was forced off during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Burnley in the Premier League, missed Monday’s training session due to a muscle complaint. The injury adds to Arsenal’s mounting concerns in their offensive department, with five other key attackers currently sidelined: Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Arteta expressed his worry about Gyokeres’s condition. “I am concerned because he hasn’t had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch and he was feeling something,” the Spanish manager stated. “That’s obviously never a good sign, especially for a player that is very, very explosive.”
Despite these setbacks, the Premier League leaders remain in impressive form, pursuing their tenth consecutive victory across all competitions and eighth straight clean sheet. Mikel Merino, who replaced Gyokeres at Burnley, could start in Prague.
The North London club, currently enjoying a six-point advantage over Manchester City and a seven-point lead over Liverpool in the Premier League title race, has also maintained a perfect record in their Champions League campaign with three wins from three matches.
However, fixture congestion is becoming a growing concern for Arsenal. The recently rescheduled League Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace has been moved to December 23, creating a tight schedule with Premier League commitments. Arteta has called on the Premier League to adjust their December 21 fixture against Everton, arguing that playing two matches in three days is unreasonable.
“Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn’t make any sense,” Arteta emphasized, adding, “We have seven players out, so I don’t know what depth we’re talking about now because we’re missing a lot of players, a lot of front players.”
The situation highlights the ongoing debate about player welfare in English football, as Arsenal continues their pursuit of their first Premier League title since 2004 while competing for their maiden Champions League trophy.
Leave a Comment