Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino are expected to be fine after suffering head injuries during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Athletic Club in Bilbao.
Gyokeres required lengthy treatment in the first half after a heavy clash of heads with his teammate Gabriel Magalhaes. Blood streamed from a deep cut to the back of his head and the forward was bandaged before continuing with a black wrap.
He played just over an hour before being withdrawn.
Arteta later clarified the substitution was not injury-related. “It was because we wanted to change certain things,” he told Viaplay. “He’s played a lot of minutes as well, my feeling was we needed fresh men.”
Merino, meanwhile, went down after a separate second-half collision, appearing briefly dazed before receiving medical attention. He was cleared to continue and completed the match.
Arteta confirmed afterwards that both players had come through without further issues.
“I think they are good. I haven’t spoken to them but I think they’re all good,” he said in his post-match press conference.