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Mikel Arteta shares how Viktor Gyokeres feels after injury setback ahead of Prague
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

Viktor Gyokeres won’t be available for Arsenal’s game against Slavia Prague, with Mikel Arteta confirming the striker is dealing with an injury.

Gyokeres was replaced at half-time during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Burnley, and his absence raised immediate concerns among supporters.

It was unfortunate timing, as he had been playing well before coming off, even getting on the scoresheet to net his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign.

He had been hoping to build on his strong showing against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, but that chance will have to wait now that he’s sidelined.

Gyokeres frustrated by injury ahead of Prague Clash

Before the Champions League trip to Prague, Arteta gave an update on Gyokeres’ injury, revealing it’s a muscular issue.

While he didn’t provide many specifics and said that the situation is still being assessed, he did share how the forward is feeling about the setback.


Photo by Apinya Rittipo/Getty Images

During his pre-match press conference, Arteta mentioned that Gyokeres is “very disappointed” with his current situation.

“He was very disappointed after the match with what he felt, but this is part of football,” Arteta said.

The manager also said that Gyokeres will have full support from Arsenal as he works through his recovery.

“If he’s got something he’s going to have to deal with, we will help him to do that. As you said, he was in a really good moment, in a really good form, it’s very important for the team. But for tomorrow, we don’t have him, so that’s it.”

The club is still looking into the exact nature of Gyokeres’ problem, which doesn’t seem to be a common occurrence for him. Arteta admitted there were worries since it wasn’t something Gyokeres usually deals with.

Viktor Gyokeres’ injury history

Gyokeres isn’t just new to muscle problems – he’s been largely free of injuries in general throughout his career.

Following a 2024/25 season where injuries were a major issue, Arsenal brought in Gyokeres hoping his durability would help stabilise the squad. That hope hasn’t exactly held up so far.

According to Transfermarkt, he’s missed just five matches due to injury across his entire career. The longest spell on the sidelines came in the summer of 2024 when a knee issue kept him out for 57 days.

Since moving to Arsenal, Gyokeres has already found himself dealing with new challenges – and unfortunately, injuries are now among them.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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