Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Viktor Gyokeres had to withdraw due to injury during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League.
The Swedish striker opened the scoring for the Gunners at Turf Moor in the 14th minute when he headed in from close range from a corner.
Declan Rice doubled the lead before half-time with a header of his own. Arsenal broke on the counter in the 35th minute when Leandro Trossard delivered a cross for the midfielder to score his second Premier League goal of the campaign.
Arteta hailed his side’s “exceptional” performance as they extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
“The first half was exceptional, we scored two goals and gave nothing away. That was the platform,” he told BBC Match of the Day.
“We had to make a few changes and didn’t have much control in the second half. The defending was exceptional again, we didn’t give anything. There is a reason they have lost one game here in 18 months, against Liverpool in the last second of the game.”
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Arsenal injury concerns confirmed after Gyokeres update was issued
The only blemish on the result was that Gyokeres had to be replaced by Mikel Merino at half-time after suffering a muscle problem in the first half.
“The first half was one of the best he has played for us. He felt something muscular, so we have to wait to know the extent of that,” Arteta explained.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegarard, Kai Havertz, None Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White are all on the covered table.
The manager also praised Rice for another impressive performance in midfield for Arsenal. “He stepped up. He won, I don’t know how many balls and tackles. It’s the evolution of a player.”
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