Gyokeres & Zubimendi injury latest after Arsenal win at Burnley | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta provided updates on Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi following the pair’s early substitutions for Arsenal against Burnley on Saturday.

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Arsenal secured another win and another clean sheet away to Burnley on Saturday, but there were a couple of fitness concerns after the game. Mikel Arteta played down Viktor Gyokeres’ withdrawal as a “little niggle”, but added that they don’t yet know the full extent of the muscle problem.

“We had to take him off because he was feeling a little niggle, muscular, so we’ll have to wait and see,” Arteta said. “I think he was in a really good moment. It’s a shame that he felt something.”

As for Martin Zubimendi, Arteta only confirmed that it was the player’s decision to withdraw from the contest.

“Zubi as well, he asked to be subbed, so we’ll have to wait and see,” Arteta added.

At least for Zubimendi, the midfielder is suspended for Arsenal’s midweek game against Slavia Prague anyway, so he can rest up and recover until next weekend.

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Though Arsenal will be sweating on Gyokeres and Zubimendi, as well as waiting for a clearer timeline on Gabriel Martinelli’s absence, the good news ahead of the Burnley clash is that Arteta is expecting at least some of his other injured players back after the international break.

Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus are Arsenal’s four longer-term absentees, and Jesus isn’t expected back for at least another month or so.

But from the other three, Arteta suggested he’s hopeful at least “some” of them will be back in time to face Spurs on November 23rd.

“It’s difficult to put a game, you know — we have the international break, which is a two-week break there. And after that, I think we’ll have some back,” Arteta said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be all of them or some of them, but we’ll be quite close by then.”

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To even get two of Madueke, Odegaard, and Havertz back for the north London derby would be a big boost, as all three can offer a lot to Arsenal in attacking areas.

Arsenal fans will be keeping fingers crossed on Gyokeres that his withdrawal against Burnley was mostly precautionary, but if the Swedish striker is out for any length of time then Havertz’s return becomes even more significant.

In the meantime, Arsenal still have to play away to Slavia Prague and Sunderland AFC before the November internationals get underway.