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 arrive at a potential milestone after a run of defensive consistency that stretches back to Oct. 1, when the streak began against Olympiacos. The club went through the entire month of October without conceding in six matches and can extend that run if they avoid defeat against Slavia Prague. If the Gunners are successful against Slavia Prague, they could set a record of nine straight clean sheets on Saturday, Nov. 8 against Sunderland.

The numbers underline the start to the campaign. Across competitions Arsenal have kept 12 clean sheets in 15 matches so far. In the Premier League they have played 10 games, kept seven clean sheets and conceded three goals. In the Champions League they are three from three with three clean sheets and no goals conceded. In the Carabao Cup they have played two matches and kept two clean sheets with no goals conceded.

The last goal Arsenal conceded came on Sept. 28 in a 2–1 win at Newcastle United. Before that the only other moments to beat David Raya came from Erling Haaland in a 1–1 draw against Manchester City and Dominik Szoboszlai in a loss at Anfield. The defeat at Anfield is their only loss so far this season.

Manager Mikel Arteta’s defensive unit, from David Raya to Gabriel and William Saliba, has been central to the club’s form. Depth options including Myles Lewis-Skelly, Piero Hincapié and Ben White have also featured as Arteta manages fitness and rotation. Arsenal are one of two teams yet to concede a goal in three Champions League matches, the other being Inter, whom the Gunners will meet in January.

Gabriel has been prominent both defensively and in attack. He has five goal contributions, two goals and three assists, in 15 appearances. Most recently he assisted Viktor Gyökeres in a 2–0 win away to Burnley. Jamie Carragher recently even went as far to name the Brazilian an early contender for Premier League Player of the Season.

As Arsenal look to maintain momentum, their run of clean sheets is the defining storyline ahead of the next fixtures and a potential historic mark for the club.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed Viktor Gyökeres will not travel for the Champions League trip to Slavia Prague after picking up a muscle problem at the weekend. The update, given in the manager’s pre-match briefing, indicated the club will carry out further tests and imaging to assess the striker’s condition.

“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. Especially for a player that is very, very explosive, so we are digging in a little bit more to understand where we are in terms of the injury and we will announce it when we know more,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.

Arteta also confirmed Martín Zubimendi will be unavailable because of yellow card accumulation. With a number of attacking names already absent this season, the manager once again faces selection headaches.

Last season Arsenal endured a run of attacking injuries that sidelined Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. Faced with similar issues this term, Arteta has previously used Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker and is expected to do so again on Tuesday. Merino was a reliable emergency option late last season, but the arrangement is described as less than ideal given the club’s investment in other forward options.

Saka has returned from a hamstring injury suffered earlier in the campaign, but Arsenal remain without Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus, Martinelli and Havertz. Leandro Trossard has operated as a false nine under Arteta in the past, but moving him centrally would create a vacancy on the left that could push Eberechi Eze out wide despite his stronger recent form as a No. 10.

Arsenal’s squad depth will be tested across the midweek trip to Slavia Prague and the subsequent visit to Sunderland. The November international break arrives shortly and, if key players return to full fitness, the club could be in a stronger position when domestic action resumes later this month.