Arsenal is 'restless' due to unexpected issues with two star players

Arsenal Football Club just achieved a solid 2-0 win against Burnley, reinforcing their lead in the Premier League standings. Yet, the happiness of Mikel Arteta's squad was incomplete because Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi both faced physical issues and were substituted prematurely.

Striker Gyokeres, who scored Arsenal’s opening goal in the first half, was substituted immediately after halftime. Coach Arteta mentioned that the Swedish forward felt “some muscle discomfort” and they didn’t want to take any risks. Arteta commented: “It’s unfortunate that he felt unwell. We had to replace Gyokeres because he was experiencing some pain. It appears to be a muscle-related issue that requires further examination to determine the extent of it.”

Meanwhile, Martin Zubimendi, the new Spanish signing, also voluntarily asked to be substituted in the 75th minute due to muscle pain. Arteta confirmed: “He requested to be taken off, so we will have to wait for the test results to assess the situation further.”

Both injuries have caused concern for Arsenal, especially as the team prepares for a challenging away match against Slavia Prague in the Champions League group stage early Wednesday. The absence of Gyokeres or Zubimendi, both playing exceptionally well, could significantly impact Arteta’s tactical setup.

Aside from injury worries, Arsenal can still be pleased with the team’s overall performance. The Gunners dominated the first half, scoring twice and not allowing Burnley any significant chances. The London side controlled the game completely and continued to demonstrate solid defensive form by keeping a clean sheet for the seventh consecutive match across all competitions. Remarkably, Burnley did not manage a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes.

Arteta expressed satisfaction with how his players maintained focus: “In the first half, we played extremely well, scoring two goals and barely giving the opponent any chances. That set the foundation for today's win. In the second half, despite some changes that reduced our ball control, the defense remained absolutely solid.”

This victory allows Arsenal to temporarily extend their lead to 7 points over their closest rivals, further confirming their status as top contenders for this Premier League season. However, with a packed schedule and intense matches domestically and in Europe, the fitness concerns of key players like Gyokeres and Zubimendi will be a primary focus for Arteta.