Arsenal's Injury Alarm: Arteta Faces Gyokeres Setback Before Europe Showdown
3 November 2025
Injury Update: Gyokeres Availability
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta clarified Viktor Gyokeres's status for the Champions League trip to Slavia Prague on Tuesday. The Swedish forward picked up an injury in the previous Saturday's Premier League clash with Burnley and was taken off at halftime.
“He will not be available tomorrow for sure, as he did not train today, and we still need to run more medical tests in the coming days,” Arteta explained in a press conference.
Arteta acknowledged Gyokeres's disappointment, adding: “But this is part of football; you expect such situations at times, and we must deal with them.”
He stressed that Gyokeres had been in good form and was a crucial presence for the team, but the forward will miss the game.
Impact on Arsenal and the Opposition
Arteta also addressed Slavia Prague’s enduring cohesion and strong home form this season. He praised their collective approach, philosophy, and the atmosphere created by the fans, which makes the match challenging.
Asked about the scheduling for a Carabao Cup quarterfinal on December 23, followed by a league game two days later, Arteta said the timing was less than ideal and suggested they would expect a change to avoid an awkward arrangement.
On the possibility of keeping a defensive run, Arteta spoke about the club’s discipline and the larger system, saying it’s the foundation of success: “We defend with all our power, intelligence, and aggression on every ball.”
He also touched on the injuries that affected certain lines: “We’ve had four knee injuries historically; more recently, other muscular issues have emerged. Injuries can hit any club, but the volume of forwards unavailable is unusual.”
Despite these setbacks, Arteta highlighted Arsenal’s depth: a strong defense, a deep squad, and resilient competitors. In 15 games across all competitions, the team had kept 12 clean sheets and conceded only once in the last four matches in the League. They’ve scored 18 league goals, with 12 coming from set-pieces, ranking second only to Manchester City.
He noted that the club has invested around £250 million in the transfer window, which has helped them weather injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, captain Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, and Bukayo Saka at various times.
Saka praised the squad’s quality: “This year we feel very strong and have plenty of quality.” He added that the side has faced injuries but those who played demonstrated they could maintain a high level, which is essential if they want to reach the end of the campaign.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has commented Arsenal do not rely on any single player, with players in each position capable of contributing. The coach must keep calm and steer the team toward the title.
In outlining the squad’s overall health, Arteta stressed that a combination of robust defense, depth, and consistent performances across positions will be key to their ambitions in Europe and the league.
Punchline (sniper-style): If injuries were a sport, Arsenal would be the league leaders in suspense. Punchline 2: Don’t worry, we’ve got more depth than a well-stocked wardrobe—just find the right outfit for every match, coach included.
