UEFA Champions League team news: Viktor Gyokeres out for Arsenal, Trent Alexander-Arnold in line for Anfield return, Spurs sweating on key pair
Published 04/11/2025 at 08:40 GMT
Arsenal's injury crisis has worsened with Mikel Arteta confirming Viktor Gyokeres will not be available for The Gunners' trip to Slavia Prague - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line for an emotional return to Anfield with Real Madrid, while Tottenham Hotspur are nervously waiting on the fitness of Mohammed Kudus and Djed Spence.
Arteta: We are very aware of how difficult it is to keep winning
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Arsenal will be without striker Viktor Gyokeres for the visit to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League after he suffered a muscular injury in the win over Burnley.
Gyokeres was withdrawn at half-time of the 2-0 win at Turf Moor, in which he scored Arsenal’s opening goal to end his Premier League drought of five games without a goal.
Mikel Arteta has now confirmed the Swedish striker will be unavailable for the trip to the Czech capital on Tuesday.
It is yet another blow to Arteta and Arsenal, who were already missing Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli as other players who could occupy the centre-forward role.
Arteta is also without Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard, while Martin Zubimendi was substituted against Burnley but appears to be in training as normal.
Those injuries will leave Arteta with the decision of whether to play Leandro Trossard, traditionally a winger, or Mikel Merino, usually a centre midfielder, as the No. 9, with both succeeding in the role at various points.
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Gyokeres makes Arsenal much better team, we become so much more unpredictable - Arteta
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On Gyokeres’ absence, Arteta could not confirm how long he would be sidelined for.
The manager said: "He’s definitely not available. He hasn't trained today, and we need to do some more tests and scans in the next few days to understand the extent of the injury, but for this game he's not available.
"I am concerned because he hasn't had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch and 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 injury and we will announce it when we know more.
"He was very disappointed after the match with what he felt, but this is part of football. At the end of the day, if you expect a linear line, everything going up, it's not going to happen.
"If he's got something he's going to have to deal with, we will help him to do that. He was in a really good moment, in really good form, it's very important for the team. But for tomorrow, we don't have him, so that's it."
- ‘We are aware of how difficult it is to keep winning’ – Arteta on Arsenal's title hunt
- Frank reveals Van de Ven and Spence apologised for Chelsea snub
- Kane considers Barcelona move as €65m clause set to become active - Euro Transfer News
Liverpool missing trio for mouthwatering Madrid clash
Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker, right-back Jeremie Frimpong and forward Alexander Isak for their Champions League tie with Real Madrid at Anfield.
Arne Slot confirmed that neither Alisson nor Frimpong would be available for the Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday either, but there is a chance Isak may have some involvement.
"All three are not available for tomorrow," said Slot. "Jeremie and Alisson will both also not be available for Sunday.
"With Alex we have to wait and see, [he is] definitely not starting on Sunday, but maybe he can be involved in the squad. He is still not training with the team, so we have to wait and see."
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McManaman says Gravenberch is 'vital' for Liverpool after win against Villa
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Alexander-Arnold in contention for emotional Anfield return
Liverpool against Real Madrid has been a dramatic fixture in recent years, but it may have just turned up a notch further, with Trent Alexander-Arnold in line to be involved.
The right-back left his boyhood club after spending 21 years there to join Real Madrid, to the displeasure of a significant contingent of the Anfield faithful.
Xabi Alonso - who is also making a return to Anfield after spending five years at Liverpool as a player between 2004 and 2009, before he too went to the Spanish capital - has confirmed the defender may well feature on Tuesday.
"He didn't play [last Saturday] because of the context of the game but he's available to play any number of minutes," Alonso said.
"Tomorrow he may play. After the injury he had, we need his qualities - he has great qualities."
Spurs sweating on Kudus and Spence
Tottenham Hotspur will be without Lucas Bergvall after the Swedish midfielder was concussed in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday and Thomas Frank is hopeful he is the only new casualty.
Both Mohammed Kudus and Djed Spence picked up knocks against Chelsea and were initially considered doubts, but Frank has confirmed they should be fit to face Copenhagen.
"Lucas got a concussion, which was probably pretty obvious from the footage," Frank said. "Djed and Mo got a knock, they could and should be available."
Spurs still have a long injury list for the clash with the Danish side, with Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Kota Takai and Mathys Tel all sidelined with injuries of varying severity.
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