Arsenal's Attacking Crisis Deepens as Gyokeres Ruled Out
Mikel Arteta has delivered a significant injury update concerning Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, confirming the Swedish international will be unavailable for this weekend's Premier League fixture against Sunderland. The news comes as a major setback for the Gunners, who are already contending with multiple absences in their forward line.
Details of the Muscular Problem
The issue arose during Arsenal's recent 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend. While Gyokeres managed to find the net, he was forced off the pitch at half-time. Manager Mikel Arteta subsequently described the problem as 'muscular', which also prevented the 27-year-old from featuring in the midweek Champions League triumph over Slavia Prague.
Further evidence of the injury's severity emerged when Gyokeres was omitted from the Swedish national team squad for the forthcoming international break. When pressed for an update during his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light, Arteta offered a succinct assessment: 'No news, we remain the same and nobody new that can join the squad so all the same.'
Wider Impact on Arsenal's Squad
The absence of Gyokeres compounds a significant selection headache for Arteta in attacking positions. He joins a substantial list of key players currently on the treatment table, including Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Noni Madueke.
When questioned if all these attacking talents would be missing for the Saturday fixture, Arteta responded, 'I cannot confirm all of that, but you are not far.' This suggests the Gunners will be significantly depleted in their forward options for the encounter with Sunderland.
Looking beyond the international break, Arsenal faces a monumental North London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, however, with Arteta expressing optimism about the potential return of some players for that crucial clash. 'I think it will be really close for them to be in a strong position,' he added, offering some reassurance to the Arsenal faithful.
