Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that forward Viktor Gyokeres will miss Tuesday’s Champions League encounter against Slavia Prague after suffering a muscle injury during the Gunners’ 2-0 Premier League victory over Burnley.
The Swedish striker, who was substituted in the second half of that game, did not train on Monday, and Arteta expressed concern about the nature of the problem.
“I am concerned because he hasn’t had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch and he was feeling something,” Arteta told reporters during his pre-match press conference. “That’s obviously never a good sign, especially for a player that is very, very explosive. So we are digging in a little bit more to understand where we are in terms of the injury and we’ll announce the moment we know.”
The Spaniard further confirmed that Gyokeres is “definitely not available” for the European tie, saying the club will conduct additional tests and scans in the coming days to determine the full extent of his injury.
The absence of Gyokeres adds to Arsenal’s growing list of attacking injuries, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard all sidelined. Despite the setbacks, the Premier League leaders are aiming for their tenth consecutive win in all competitions and an eighth successive clean sheet when they face Slavia Prague.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, who replaced Gyokeres in the Burnley game, is expected to start in Prague as Arsenal continue their impressive run both domestically and in Europe.
The North London side, chasing their first English league title since 2004, currently hold a six-point lead over Manchester City and a seven-point advantage over defending champions Liverpool.
In Europe, the Gunners have enjoyed a perfect start, winning all three of their opening Champions League fixtures. However, Arteta voiced concerns about a potential fixture pile-up, following the rescheduling of the League Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace from December 16 to December 23.
The new date means both clubs will play two matches within three days, as they are also scheduled for Premier League action on December 21.
“Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn’t make any sense,” Arteta said. “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. If we continue to do that every three days… we want respecting again. What we discussed previously (on player welfare), that in our opinion it’s the most important part.”
What you should know
Arsenal’s top striker Viktor Gyokeres has been ruled out of the team’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague due to a muscle injury.
The setback adds to the Gunners’ growing injury list as they continue their title chase and navigate a congested fixture schedule.
