An injury expert has predicted how long Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi could be out for after both Arsenal stars were withdrawn against Burnley.
The Gunners increased their lead at the Premier League summit to seven points on Saturday, although second-placed Bournemouth could go back to four points behind if they beat Manchester City on Sunday, after Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Burnley 2-0.
Gyokeres and Declan Rice scored the goals as Arsenal made easy work of their match against the Clarets, who only had four shots all game.
As well as scoring, Gyokeres performed well with Arsenal boss Arteta hailing his overall display as “exceptional” in his post-match interviews.
Arteta told reporters: “I think it was one of the best games that he’s played. I think that overall his performance was exceptional apart from the goal.
When asked what impressed him specifically about the Swede’s display, Arteta added: “Everything. His high press, his position and his touches. His threat in behind, the way he linked play, the way he gets us from these situations to transition moments. I think he was in a really good moment. It’s a shame that he felt something.”
However, Gyokeres was taken off at half-time with a muscle issue, while Arsenal midfielder Zubimendi was also taken off after receiving treatment in the second half.
And now injury expert ‘Physio Scout | Football Injury Analysis‘ on X has eased Arsenal fans’ worries that either injury could be anything long term.
The account on X wrote: ‘Viktor Gyökeres was taken off at half-time vs Burnley after “feeling something muscular.” Arteta says he’ll be assessed.
‘By the sounds of things, it looks more like tightness or a Grade 1 strain rather than a big injury. Tightness/fatigue: <1 week. Grade 1 strain: 2–4 weeks.
‘Martin Zubimendi was also withdrawn after treatment, but with no clear in-game mechanism, it profiles more as muscle fatigue/overload from the recent run of games.
‘Likely day-to-day unless scans show more. Double knock on an otherwise dominant Arsenal display. Doesn’t sound like anything too major to worry about though.’
On his side’s performance overall, Arsenal boss Arteta added: “Extremely pleased because it’s a really tough place to come. I think we were exceptional from the first minute. I think we were so dominant, very fluent, we scored two goals and we could have scored another three or four.
“[We need to] take that energy, that belief, that courage. Understand as well the things that we have to do better, that we could have done better, especially here in the second half, and continue on Tuesday, another one, on Saturday, another one. So the games are coming thick and fast.”