Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed confidence in striker Viktor Gyokeres as the forward continues to seek his first goal of the season. On October 16, Arteta praised Gyokeres for his dedication and work ethic despite playing a limited role in the early stages of the campaign. The 28-year-old forward has yet to score in any competition this season, having been overshadowed by Germany international Kai Havertz, who has been preferred in the starting lineup.
Arteta highlighted Gyokeres’s "incredible will and determination," emphasizing that the striker remains a valued option regardless of his current goal drought. The manager noted that Gyokeres, who scored 21 goals in his debut season for Arsenal in 2025-26, has been unfortunate not to find the net this term. “He’s had some very good moments," Arteta said, referring to several instances where Gyokeres was presented with clear scoring opportunities but was unable to convert. “It’s very small margins,” he added, stressing how scoring or not scoring can significantly influence perception.
Ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on October 18, Arteta also provided updates on the fitness of key players. Midfielder Martin Zubimendi may be available after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during training at Emirates Stadium last week. However, defender Piero Hincapie is expected to miss the trip to the City Ground due to a similar injury.
Meanwhile, at Manchester United, interim manager Michael Carrick addressed the aftermath of defender Lisandro Martinez’s recent criticism of the club’s hierarchy. Following United’s 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on October 13, Martinez publicly expressed frustration over perceived insufficient squad investment. He singled out director of football Jason Wilcox, stating he had anticipated more activity in the summer transfer window after the club’s third-place finish in the previous Premier League season.
Martinez has reportedly been fined for his comments but remains in contention for inclusion in United’s squad for their fixture against Leeds on October 18. Speaking ahead of the match, Carrick downplayed the incident as “really not a drama” and said the team had moved past the controversy. “He has come out and acknowledged the situation and as a group we’ve moved on,” Carrick said. He added that training had been positive, with good morale within the squad ahead of the weekend’s game.