Gyokeres sends 9-word Arsenal message after injury scare as Arteta issues update

Viktor Gyokeres was left bloodied and bruised during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Athletic Club in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but the striker has now broken his silence

Viktor Gyokeres has finally spoken out following Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Athletic Club. The 27-year-old striker sustained a head injury during the Gunners' inaugural match of the new Champions League season after a clash with Gabriel Magalhaes.

Gyokeres and the Arsenal skipper collided heads around the half-hour mark as they both attempted to head the ball. The Swedish international got the worst of the incident, requiring immediate medical attention.

Gyokeres suffered a severe cut to the back of his head, but he was eventually patched up and given the green light to continue. The Swede managed to get back on his feet, donning a black headband.

The deadlock at the San Mames Stadium wasn't broken until shortly after Leandro Trossard came on for Gyokeres. The Arsenal substitute set up Gabriel Martinelli's opening goal before finding the back of the net himself in the final moments of the match.

After the game, Arteta gave a brief update on Gyokeres and Mikel Merino, who also sustained a head injury against Athletic Club. The Arsenal manager said: "I think they are all good."

Then, on Wednesday night, once everything had calmed down, Gyokeres broke his silence with a post on his Instagram story. Alongside a picture of himself during the match, the Swede wrote: "Great to be back in @ChampionsLeague with a win [arm flexed and ninja emojis]."

Arteta is hoping that Gyokeres and Merino will be fit to face Manchester City this weekend. The Gunners are set to host Pep Guardiola's side at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be a heated match.

If Arsenal are to triumph over Manchester City, they may need to heed advice from club legend Thierry Henry. Recently analysing Gyokeres' performance on CBS Sports, Henry offered some pointers.

Pointing at Gyokeres as he approached the opposition box, Henry said: "The ball has to go here, across the defender. There's no way that those guys should catch you if you take care of the ball properly.

"He's going to have two chances to do it. He won't do it. He doesn't even look at what's happening. He's praying. They are praying. But that first touch is not going to be good."

Micah Richards queried: "Is that a confidence thing or a technical thing?"

To which Henry responded: "Yes, yes. Look, we all know that he's been scoring, but away from home, that has to be a goal. He should have had a 1v1. I'm just saying this is the difference between going 1-0 up and still staying 0-0."