Mikel Arteta sent conflicting messages as Arsenal fans name their ideal Viktor Gyokeres replacements

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Arsenal are set to be without main striker Viktor Gyokeres due to injury, and fans can’t decide who should replace him.

Gyokeres was injured against Burnley as the Gunners secured a 2-0 victory to maintain their place at the Premier League summit.

Attention now turns to the Champions League, where Arsenal are facing Slavia Prague.

Mikel Arteta discussed Gyokeres’ injury ahead of the tie. He said: “No he’s not available.

“He hasn’t trained today, and we need to do some more tests and scans to understand the extent of the injury.”

Now, a fresh update has emerged, and it’s not great news for the Gunners.

Who will replace Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal

It has been reported that both the Swede and Gabriel Martinelli will be out until after the international break.

Fans have since taken to social media to express who they think is the ideal replacement for Gyokeres.

One fan wrote: “Hmm, do we play with a false 9? Push Eze up top. Play MLS in the midfield too. Most likely Merino, but will be interesting to see how we line up against Sunderland.”

A second fan responded: “Mikel Merinoooooo”.

Leandro Trossard was another Arsenal fans’ choice: “Please just play Trossard up front for now.”

“Eze can play as ST,” suggested another of the Gunners’ faithful.

A fourth asked: “Zubimendi?” while another called for Bukayo Saka to step up: “Not the news I wanted but now Saka HAS to step up in the attack He’s done it before and now needs to do it again.”

While Merino seems the obvious replacement for Gyokeres, we suggested following the Burnley tie that Declan Rice could play up front.

What Declan Rice said about playing as a number nine

Speaking after the Burnley win, Rice compared himself to a number nine.

He said: “It’s important we keep scoring goals. Two goals are perfect for us. If you look at the goal as a whole, we’re defending a long throw from our own half.

“Big Gabi [Gabriel Magalhaes] wins the ball, and I keep running with the ball. I was like a traditional number nine!”

At present, Gyokeres is the Gunners’ top goalscorer with four, while no other player has more than two goals in the Premier League this season.

Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke would also have been considered as potential replacements, but the duo are sidelined alongside Gabriel Jesus.