Arsenal expect Viktor Gyökeres to be sidelined through the November international window but are targeting his return for the north London derby on Sunday, Nov. 23. Mikel Arteta expressed concern after the striker was forced off with a muscular problem: “I am concerned because he hasn’t had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch. He was feeling something and that’s obviously never a good sign.”

The Athletic report the Swede will undergo further tests and will be out until after the international window. Arsenal are “hoping” Gyökeres will be fit and ready to start against Tottenham Hotspur. In the meantime Arteta is expected to revert to last season’s tactical workaround, deploying natural midfielder Mikel Merino up front for the European trip to Sparta Prague and likely for the Premier League visit of Sunderland on Saturday, Nov. 8.

The timing is unfortunate for Gyökeres, who had begun to find form in an Arsenal shirt. After scoring three times in his first 11 appearances he has since found the net three times in his last three matches.

Gyökeres joins a growing list of absentees. Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are all currently unavailable. Martinelli, who sustained a muscle injury in Arsenal’s 1–0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, Oct. 26, is “targeting a return swiftly” after the November international window and is hoping to be available in time for Spurs’ trip to the Emirates as well.

Martinelli was left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for upcoming matches against Senegal and Tunisia, a move that gives the forward time to recover ahead of a congested holiday schedule. If either Gyökeres or Martinelli suffer a setback, they risk missing not only the north London derby but also clashes with Bayern Munich and Chelsea to close out November.

Arsenal will be without Martín Zubimendi for their fourth Champions League outing in the group stage as the midfielder serves a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. The Spaniard, who has been a regular presence in midfield, will not travel with the squad for the trip to Prague where Arsenal face Slavia Prague in Gameweek 4.

Zubimendi has been influential this season, logging 1,099 minutes — the third-most in Mikel Arteta’s squad across all competitions — and scoring twice. Both goals arrived in the 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest in September. He trained ahead of the midweek match but his absence is disciplinary rather than fitness related. Zubimendi did pick up a knock in Saturday’s 2–0 win over Burnley, but that is not the reason for his unavailability.

The travelling party is already depleted by a list of injuries. Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli are all absent due to injury. Separately, Viktor Gyökeres and Zubimendi were listed as concerns over the weekend; the former suffered a muscle issue that will keep him out until after the November international break.

UEFA’s disciplinary framework means Zubimendi became the first player to earn a suspension in this season’s Champions League after accumulating three yellow cards in Arsenal’s opening three group games. He will be eligible to return for Gameweek 5 when Arsenal welcome Bayern Munich to the Emirates. The rules also stipulate that players receive one-game bans for every odd-numbered yellow card they receive after the third. If Zubimendi picks up a fifth yellow card before the slate is wiped clean after the quarterfinals, he would face an additional suspension.

To cover his absence in central midfield, Arteta has turned to summer signing Christian Nørgaard, deploying him in a holding position for the match in Prague. Arsenal go into the fixture aiming to preserve their perfect start to the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly defended Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, arguing that the difficulties the club has faced this season are largely beyond the coach’s control. United made significant investments over the summer, particularly in attack, and while there have been encouraging signs, the campaign has included notable setbacks, not least in the Carabao Cup.

Speaking with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo sought to reduce pressure on Amorim and placed responsibility higher up the club hierarchy. “He’s [doing] his best. What’s he going to do? Miracles? Miracles [are] impossible. We say in Portugal, ‘Miracles [are] only in Fatima.’ He’s not going to do miracles. Even the players. Manchester United have good players, but they don’t have, some of them, in their minds what Manchester United is,” Ronaldo said.

Beyond the manager himself, Ronaldo highlighted a lack of long-term planning and a shortage of youth within the first team. “You have to follow intelligent, smart people to create a base for the future as Manchester United have so many years ago. Nicky Butt, Gary [Neville], Roy Keane, [David] Beckham. They become big players, but they had youth,” he said.

He continued: “Manchester United, right now, they don’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the future. Present, future because the potential of the club is amazing. It’s one of the most important clubs of the century.”

Ronaldo also made clear that he still watches the club closely because Man Utd is “still in his heart,” while urging honesty about its present condition.

Statistical context in the discussion noted that Manchester United have an average squad age of 25.4 years, per Transfermarkt, and that most current starters were signed within the last five years. The club’s 88-year record for selecting a homegrown player remains intact, but Ronaldo acknowledged that the current squad is far different from the side he played for under Sir Alex Ferguson.