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‘Certain issues with players’ - Mikel Arteta has said every Arsenal player will get an opportunity this season after Viktor Gyokeres was once again left on the bench during the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Aston Villa. Despite scoring 22 goals last season, the Sweden striker has found minutes hard to come by at the start of the campaign, leading to speculation over a possible late summer transfer.

Arsenal dig out hard-earned win at Villa

Bukayo Saka’s second-half goal ensured Arsenal kept up their perfect start to the Premier League season with a tight 1-0 victory at Villa Park. The Gunners leaned on a strong defensive display to take all three points, recording their sixth clean sheet in seven league matches going back to the closing stretch of last season.

Arteta made significant use of his bench to handle a difficult away assignment. Eberechi Eze came on at half-time in place of summer arrival Christos Tzolis and played an important role in Saka’s match-winning goal. Mikel Merino, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa were also introduced in the second half to help Arsenal close out the contest.

Gyokeres, though, was an unused substitute for the second straight league game. The Sweden international also did not get on the pitch against Coventry last week and was limited to only 15 minutes in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.

Arteta explains his substitution strategy

After the final whistle, Arteta spoke about the limited involvement of some members of his squad. The Arsenal manager said physical constraints were behind the changes he made against Villa.

“It was a squad victory and we knew it was going to be a long match,” Arteta said. “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.”

Speaking directly about the unused substitutes, the Spaniard added: “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.”

Transfer rumours continue around Gyokeres

Gyokeres’ reduced role is largely down to Kai Havertz returning to full fitness, with the former Chelsea player currently preferred in attack. That shortage of game time has naturally intensified talk over the Swede’s future ahead of transfer deadline day.

The striker has recently been linked with a move to Barcelona. Reports have even claimed he could be included as part of a complicated deal that would bring Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez to the Emirates Stadium.

At the same time, Arsenal have reportedly reduced their attacking options by allowing Ethan Nwaneri to join Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of the season. The Bundesliga club acted quickly for the England Under-21 international after Giannis Konstantelias suffered a serious cruciate knee ligament injury.

Nwaneri departs as deadline day approaches

Nwaneri is due to undergo a medical in Germany today as he looks for regular first-team football that he was unlikely to get in north London. Interestingly, the teenager may soon come up against his parent club, with Dortmund and Arsenal having been drawn in the same Champions League group.

For Arteta’s side, the priority will remain extending their winning run while negotiating the final hours of the transfer window. Whether Gyokeres stays in the squad to compete for the minutes his manager has promised should become clear by deadline day.