Sunderland receive boost vs Arsenal as Mikel Arteta confirms Black Cats bully set to be missing
Arsenal look set to be without several key players ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The Gunners are leading the Premier League, but will face a difficult test against Regis Le Bris‘ in-form Sunderland.
Sunderland drew 1-1 with Everton on Monday, with former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka getting the equaliser for the Black Cats.
Iliman Ndiaye had put the visitors ahead before the Switzerland international’s deflected strike flew past Jordan Pickford just after the break to earn another point for Le Bris’ men.
Xhaka was hailed for his performance against Everton, and the midfielder will hope to put in another top performance against his former club on 8 November.
Mikel Arteta provides update on Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal are already without several players, most notably in the attacking positions.
Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus have already been out for some time and will not return for Saturday’s game.
In their absence, Viktor Gyokeres has started all but one of the Gunners’ last eight games across all competitions.
| Arsenal absences | Status |
| Kepa Arrizabalaga | Unavailable |
| Martin Odegaard | Injured |
| Gabriel Jesus | Injured |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Injured |
| Kai Havertz | Injured |
| Viktor Gyokeres | Injured |
| Noni Madueke | Injured |
Arsenal signed the Swede in the summer, after a saga that had lasted for much of the window.
Sunderland had been involved in Gyokeres’ move to Arsenal, after they showed interest in the striker that Sporting CP targeted to replace the 27-year-old, Luis Suarez.
The Colombian eventually did join the Portuguese side, however, and Mikel Arteta got his man. However, the Spaniard has now confirmed that the striker picked up an injury against Burnley on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League meeting with Slavia Prague, Arteta said: “He hasn’t trained today and we need to do some more tests and scans over the next few days to understand the full extent of the injury. This game, he’s not available.
“I am concerned. Because he hasn’t had many muscular issues, and he needed to leave the pitch, and he was feeling something.”
Gyokeres bullied Sunderland in the Championship
Sunderland faced off against Gyokeres on two occasions in the 2022-23 Championship season, when the striker was with Coventry City.
First at the Stadium of Light, where the Swede smashed in a superb equaliser in the closing stages of the game to earn the visitors a point.
Gyokeres would star again when Sunderland made the reverse trip, providing the assist for Coventry’s opener before doubling the lead himself late on.
Le Bris will be grateful not to have the 27-year-old to contend with on Saturday should he be unavailable, although Arteta has been known to exaggerate injury concerns in the past.
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