Mikel Arteta has confirmed Viktor Gyokeres is out of Arsenal’s trip to Slavia Prague on Tuesday and admits he is concerned over the extent of his injury issue.
The Swedish striker scored in the 2-0 Premier League win over Burnley on Saturday but had to be replaced at half-time at Turf Moor.
The summer signing from Sporting missed training on Monday so was not expected to be involved in the Champions League outing on Tuesday and Arteta has hinted that he could miss more action.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday evening, Arteta said of Gyokeres and the trip to Slavia Prague: ‘He’s definitely not available. He hasn’t trained today.
‘We need to do some more tests and scans the next few days to understand the extent of the injury but this game he’s not available.’
On how concerned he is over the striker’s issue, the manager said: ‘I am concerned because he hasn’t had many muscular issues. He had to leave the pitch and he was feeling something, that’s obviously never a good sign especially for a player that is very, very explosive. We’ll announce the moment we know more.’
Pushed on exactly what injury Gyokeres is suffering with, the Spaniard said: ‘I leave that to the doctors. They will explain. I don’t want to talk anymore. We will see in the next week or so.’
The Swede had scored three goals in three appearances before this setback, which Arteta admits makes the injury especially disappointing.
‘Well obviously he was very disappointed after the match with what he felt but this is part of football,’ said the Gunners boss. ‘If you expect a linear line always going up it’s not going to happen.
‘If he’s got something he’s going to have to deal with it and we will help him to do that. He was in a really good moment, in really good form, really important for the team, but for tomorrow we don’t have him, that’s it.’
Arteta is a bit short of options up front now Gyokeres is sidelined as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus also remain sidelined.
Gabriel Martinelli is also out, meaning it could be Leandro Trossard or Mikel Merino asked to lead the line in Prague.
Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke also remain out injured, while Martin Zubimendi is suspended on Tuesday.
However, the Spanish midfielder did train on Monday, which allays fears of injury after he was taken off against Burnley on Saturday.