Arsenal supporters know drama as well as any fanbase, and another anxious chapter arrives with Viktor Gyokeres facing scans this week. The striker, who has swiftly endeared himself to the Emirates crowd with power, precision and six goals already, walked off at half time during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Burnley. Now, as Champions League lights glow in Prague, he remains at home and under assessment.
It is a jolt for a club that has built rhythm and momentum. Gyokeres has brought bustle to Arsenal’s forward line, a modern centre forward with a hint of vintage Premier League grit. Yet even the most finely tuned machine can falter, and Mikel Arteta is braced for updates from the medical department.
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“He is definitely not available, he hasn’t trained today,” said Arteta on Monday night in Prague. That absence from training underlines the caution around a muscular issue that needs careful management, particularly for a player whose game thrives on explosiveness.
Injury concerns and Arteta’s measured tone
Arteta did not hide his feelings. “We need to do some more tests and scans in the next few days to understand the extent of the injury, but for this game, he is not available.” The Arsenal manager has often spoken about marginal gains, body science and conditioning. With Gyokeres, the tone is protective yet pragmatic.
“I am concerned, because he hasn’t had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch [on Saturday]. He was feeling something and that’s obviously never a good sign, especially for a player that is very, very explosive.”
Arsenal fans have seen this movie before with key figures. Yet there is also a sense of calm, a belief in squad depth and structure.
Next steps and squad responsibility
“We are digging in a little bit more to understand where we are in terms of the injury, and we will announce the moment we know more,” continued Arteta. “Obviously he was very disappointed after the match with what he felt, but this is part of football.”
That reminder of the game’s unpredictability feels timely. Seasons hinge on fitness, fortitude and resilience. For Arsenal, chasing domestic and European glory, adaptability is essential.
“At the end, if you expect a linear line with everything going up, it’s not going to happen. If he has got something, he is going to have to deal with it. We will help him to do that. As you said, he was in a really good moment, in really good form. He is very important for the team. But, for tomorrow, we don’t have him, so that’s it.”
Focus shifts to Prague and onwards
Asked for clarity, Arteta kept it brief. “I leave that to the doctors. They will explain. I don’t want to talk anymore. We are here to talk about tomorrow’s match and the players that are available. We will see in the next week or so.”
Arsenal move into Europe without their talismanic new forward, navigating tense nights with the optimism of a team convinced their project remains upward. Gyokeres now waits for results, the club waits with him, and supporters hope this is a brief pause rather than a momentum-halting blow.