Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks poised to make two attacking changes during the Premier League clash against Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium next weekend.
The Gunners made a tremendous start to the league campaign with four straight wins before suffering a humbling 3-0 defeat on the road to Brighton & Hove Albion.
They will aim to make amends against Leeds on Saturday. Ahead of the game, Arteta could be compelled to make attacking changes on the back of untimely injuries.
Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring issue during Germany’s first Nations League game against the Netherlands. He was taken off the field after just 30 minutes.
The striker has subsequently returned to Arsenal for further medical assessment, but given his injury record in recent times, Arteta may handle him with extra caution.
This could pave the way for Viktor Gyokeres to make his first start of the league season.
The Swede has been a fringe player in the English top-flight this term with just 29 minutes in two appearances, and he could finally make the XI against Leeds.
He has been in tremendous form for his country with three goals in the Nations League.
Gyokeres also scored thrice against Daniel Farke’s side last term, including a brace at the Emirates.
The 28-year-old looks well suited to playing against Leeds. He is a likely candidate to lead the line ahead of Mikel Merino, who could come off the bench as a makeshift striker in Havertz’s possible absence.
The other enforced attacking change could come on the left wing, with Christos Tzolis set to be sidelined for a maximum of three weeks after a hamstring injury on Greece duty.
Tzolis has been an undisputed starter in the league for the Gunners in his debut season, while Eberechi Eze has been restricted to starts in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Arteta said last month that Eze is ‘very comfortable‘ operating as a left winger and has produced some of the highest moments of his playing career featuring from the attacking role.
Eze impressed off the bench against Aston Villa with a key pass in the lead-up to Bukayo Saka’s winner. He should be a prime candidate to fill the void left by Tzolis’ unfortunate injury.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com