How Arsenal could line up after double injury blow as Mikel Arteta faces dilemma

There is plenty for Gunners boss to ponder after bruising international break

Viktor Gyokeres' return to form has come at the perfect time for Arsenal.

The striker went into the international break low on confidence and with no real positives to take from his performances in the early weeks of the season at club level.

However, for his country, it has been a different story. Gyokeres has three goals in as many matches for Sweden and has looked far more like the ruthless striker Arsenal need.

That is very welcome news for Mikel Arteta. With Kai Havertz picking up a hamstring injury while on Germany duty, Gyokeres is set to get his chance in the Premier League.

Havertz's injury is not believed to be a serious one but no exact timeframe for his recovery has yet been provided.

As it stands, it looks likely that Gyokeres will lead the line when Arsenal host Leeds on Saturday, an opponent he scored three times against last season. That should be another confidence boost for the forward.

Arteta also has the option to start Mikel Merino up front instead, and the Spaniard is more of an enabler in terms of combining with those around him than Gyokeres.

Time to step up: Arsenal will be relying on Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres

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However, it would be a surprise if Arteta did not turn to Gyokeres after his impressive run with Sweden.

There is more for Arteta to ponder on the wing. Christos Tzolis also suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Greece and looks set to miss around three weeks.

Eberechi Eze has shared the minutes on the left so far this season with Tzolis and is the obvious candidate to get a run of matches.

Arteta has praised the improvements Eze has made off the ball in that position, fulfilling his duties tracking back and helping the full-back.

Arsenal's best performances in attack this season have come when the front line has interchanged fluidly.

Gyokeres will not offer that in the same way that Havertz does, but Eze is comfortable when drifting into central positions and it is a way for Arteta to get both him and Martin Odegaard in the same lineup.

However, Arteta might also consider other options to add a different element to the attack.

Noni Madueke featured on the left wing in the early stages of last season but has barely had a minute there since.

Alternative options: Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino could also push for starts

He would, though, offer a point of difference. Madueke is not going to displace Bukayo Saka in the team on the right wing but his pace is a useful attribute to try and make use of.

Playing him on the left would increase Arsenal's threat in behind and make it more difficult for pressing sides to pin them in.

Madueke is predominantly left-footed and Gyokeres would prefer he was playing on that wing than Eze, who has an instinct to cut inside.

Madueke is a natural winger and more of a direct runner, getting to the byline and putting in crosses. Gyokeres is not a player to create chances for himself out of nothing and service will be important.

Arteta could get more experimental, whether that be moving Saka over to the left or finding a way to get Max Dowman into the team.

That feels more unlikely for now. Arteta will want to minimise the disruption and his right wing has been a key strength so far this season.

The challenge is ensuring the rest of the attack does not let that down.