Arsenal face anxious wait over Viktor Gyokeres injury setback
Arsenal’s hopes of maintaining momentum heading into the winter period have been hit by concerns over Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish striker ruled out of this weekend’s Premier League clash against Sunderland due to a muscular injury.
Gyokeres sidelined after Burnley setback
The forward, who has been in strong form since arriving in North London, sustained a hamstring issue during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. He was withdrawn at half-time and subsequently missed the Champions League victory against Slavia Prague earlier this week.
National team manager Janne Andersson has also opted to omit the 27-year-old from Sweden’s latest squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia, further underlining the seriousness of the issue.
Arsenal have confirmed that Gyokeres is undergoing scans to determine the full extent of the damage, with Mikel Arteta expected to offer a clearer update during his press conference on Friday.
Arteta expresses concern over explosive forward
Speaking earlier in the week, Arteta admitted unease over the situation, noting Gyokeres’ rarity of injury problems and the nature of the discomfort he felt.
“I am concerned because he hasn’t had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch after feeling something,” the Arsenal boss said. “That’s obviously never a good sign, especially for a player that relies on power and explosiveness.”
Arteta also emphasised the unpredictable nature of recovery timelines, insisting the club’s medical staff are working carefully to assess the problem. “We are digging deeper to understand where we are in terms of his injury and we’ll communicate when we know more. He was disappointed after the match at Burnley, but this is part of football. Progress isn’t always linear.”
Merino steps up in Gyokeres’ absence
With Gyokeres unavailable, Mikel Merino led the line in Prague and responded impressively by scoring twice in a commanding 3-0 win. The Spanish midfielder-turned-forward is expected to reprise his role this weekend as Arsenal travel to face Sunderland, who have made a strong start to the Premier League campaign and currently sit fourth in the table.
Teenage striker Andre Harriman Annous, who made his senior debut against Brighton last week, may again be named among the substitutes as Arsenal’s only fit natural centre-forward option.
Injury concerns mounting for Arsenal
Gyokeres joins a growing list of first-team absentees, as Arteta’s side continue to navigate a demanding fixture schedule. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke are all targeting a return ahead of the north London derby on 23 November, while Gabriel Jesus remains sidelined until late December or early January.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also missed the midweek European fixture, with no confirmed timeframe for his return.
While Arsenal remain within reach of the Premier League summit, the depth of Arteta’s squad is now being tested. Gyokeres’ fitness will be closely monitored over the coming days, with hopes that the initial signs of a hamstring strain do not develop into a longer-term setback.
