Mikel Arteta sends message to Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal allow first-team star to leave

Mikel Arteta has promised there will be ‘enough minutes for everyone’ after Viktor Gyokeres was an unused substitute for the second week in a row.

Arsenal continued their flawless start to the defence of their Premier League title following a narrow 1-0 win at Villa Park last night.

Bukayo Saka’s goal, just before the hour mark, ultimately proved the difference as the Gunners again leaned into their defensive solidity to record a sixth clean sheet in their last seven top flight matches, dating back to last season’s run-in.

Arteta was able to demonstrate the depth of options he has at his disposal during the closing stages, having already introduced Eberechi Eze at the break after a disappointing 45 minutes for summer recruit Christos Tzolis.

Eze played a big role in the decisive moment of the match, but impressive cameos from Mikel Merino, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, who replaced the injury-stricken Cristhian Mosequera, helped seal another three points.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, was left to stew on the bench as he was against Coventry last Friday night, while he was only brought on with 15 minutes remaining in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City.

The Sweden international scored 22 goals in all competitions last term following his high-profile move from Sporting Lisbon, but failed to fully convince and ultimately lost his place to Kai Havertz once the former Chelsea star returned to full fitness.

Gyokeres has been linked with a move to Barcelona this summer and has been touted as a potential makeweight in a deal that could involve Julian Alvarez moving from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal.

Whether there is any movement on deadline day remains to be seen, but in terms of Gyokeres’ lack of involvement last night, Arteta hinted he was influenced by the physical condition of players who were unable to complete 90 minutes.

He said: ‘It was a squad victory and we knew it was going to be a long match. The game was going to shift and they were going to have moments because they are very capable of doing that, especially when you lose the ball in certain areas.

‘There are still things to improve but I loved the attitude of every single player that was on the pitch.

‘It was a squad performance and a squad victory today and I’m sad for the ones that didn’t have the chance to play because they all want to be participating.

‘But sometimes you have certain issues with players physically that you have to make changes and I’m sure there are going to be minutes for everybody.’

Arsenal have, however, granted Ethan Nwaneri permission to join Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of the season.

The Bundesliga side, who will face the Gunners in the Champions League group stage, had been interested in the England Under-21 international earlier this summer.

Dortmund’s need for attacking reinforcements, however, were exacerbated by the cruciate knee ligament injury suffered by Giannis Konstantelias.

Nwaneri will travel to Germany to undergo a medical today and will hope to gain the first team minutes he was unlikely to enjoy at his parent club.