Arsenal are expected to be without a number of key players when they meet Sunderland in the Premier League, with Viktor Gyokeres the latest injury concern and the home side also facing issues
Arsenal and Sunderland are both expected to have plenty of important players on the sidelines when they meet in the Premier League this Saturday.
The Gunners will be looking to maintain their brilliant start to the campaign and stretch their advantage at the summit of the Premier League table as they look to win the top flight and end a 21-year drought. Mikel Arteta’s team boast a six-point cushion over Manchester City in the current standings, whilst defending champions Liverpool trail by seven points in third, with both sides scheduled to clash on Sunday.
This means Arsenal have the opportunity to establish a nine-point gap with victory over Sunderland on Saturday evening, though the Gunners will need to manage without several crucial figures as they travel north. Viktor Gyokeres is the most recent addition to the casualty list after the forward picked up a hamstring problem.
The setback meant Gyokeres sat out the triumph against Slavia Prague in the Champions League, and it’s expected he won’t be ready to tackle Sunderland this weekend, reports Football London.
Gyokeres was also omitted from the Sweden selection by newly-appointed boss Graham Potter for the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia.
“We need our best players and Viktor [Gyokeres] and Dejan [Kulusevski] are important for us,” Potter remarked following the announcement of his maiden Sweden squad.
“But we have the ones we have. We have to work with the players we have and create a team and the right environment. Then just work.”
Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli have all been nursing injuries recently, but they’re hopeful of making a comeback after the international break to face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.
Gabriel Jesus has spent most of the year recuperating from a knee injury and is looking forward to resuming training soon.
Sunderland will also have to contend with several players being out due to injury. Ajibola Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Romaine Mundle (hamstring), Leo Hjelde (Achilles) and Habib Diarra (groin) were all absent from the 1-1 draw with Sunderland last weekend due to injury and are likely to remain sidelined.
Omar Alderete might also be ruled out of the match against Arsenal after sustaining a head injury during the draw with the Toffees last week.
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