Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reveals why he took Viktor Gyökeres off at half-time during their 2-0 win at Burnley.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained why he took Viktor Gyökeres off at half-time during their 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.

The Swedish striker had an impressive first half, opening the scoring with a header and influencing the game significantly.

Gyökeres was replaced by Mikel Merino at the start of the second half, sparking concerns about his fitness. Arteta revealed that Gyökeres felt something muscular, and medical checks will determine the extent of the issue.

“In the first half, it was one of the best he’s played with us,” Arteta said. “He felt something muscular, so we have to wait to learn the extent of that.”

The injury scare is concerning, especially with Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League trip to Slavia Prague in midweek.

Gyökeres had been rested for the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton in midweek, making his substitution even more surprising. Arteta’s priority is protecting his key players, and he’ll be hoping Gyökeres’ injury isn’t serious.