Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that striker Viktor Gyokeres will miss Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Slavia Prague after picking up a muscle injury in the Gunners’ 2–0 Premier League win over Burnley.
The Swedish forward, who was substituted during the match, failed to train on Monday as medical staff continue to assess the extent of the problem. Speaking ahead of the clash in Prague, Arteta admitted concern over the striker’s condition, describing the injury as unusual for a player of his profile.
“I’m worried because he hasn’t had many muscular issues before, and the fact that he had to come off while feeling discomfort isn’t a good sign,” Arteta said during his pre-match press briefing. “He’s a very explosive player, so we’re still trying to understand the full nature of the injury. Once we have the results of the tests, we’ll make it public.”
Arteta made it clear that Gyokeres will not be available for the Slavia Prague fixture, adding that further scans would determine how long the striker will be sidelined.
Gyokeres joins a growing injury list that includes Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and captain Martin Odegaard — leaving Arsenal short of attacking options as they enter a crucial run of fixtures.
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal travel to the Czech capital in strong form, chasing their tenth consecutive victory in all competitions and an eighth straight clean sheet. Midfielder Mikel Merino, who replaced Gyokeres at Burnley, is expected to feature from the start against Slavia.
The North London side currently sits six points clear of Manchester City and seven ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League as they continue their push for a first league title since 2004. Arsenal have also maintained a perfect record in the Champions League this season, winning all three of their opening group matches.
However, fixture congestion remains a growing concern for Arteta. The manager called on the Premier League to reschedule Arsenal’s upcoming match against Everton after the League Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace was moved to December 23 — just two days after a scheduled league game.
“Playing two days apart makes no sense,” Arteta said. “Since the new date for the League Cup has been fixed, I’m confident the Premier League will adjust our fixture as well. We already have seven players out, and it’s unrealistic to expect us to keep performing every three days under such pressure.”
Arteta also reiterated his stance on player welfare, emphasizing that the current scheduling demands are unsustainable. “We’ve spoken about this before — protecting players should be the priority,” he added. “Right now, we’re stretched thin, and something needs to change.”
