Viktor Gyokeres left bloodied in Arsenal injury scare after nasty clash of heads with team-mate Gabriel in Athletic Club Champions League showdown

The sight of the Gunners’ marquee striker sprawled out with blood streaming from his scalp was cause for conern. Medical staff raced on, surrounding the 26-year-old while Gabriel stood over him, visibly shaken. The wound, a nasty-looking gash on his head, needed urgent treatment. A lengthy pause followed, stretching to almost four minutes, as Gyokeres was patched up on the pitch before being escorted to the sidelines.

The new signing was, however, able to continue despite the significant knock. He returned to the field with a black bandage wrapped tightly around his head for protection.

Up until the sickening clash, Gyokeres had struggled to stamp his authority on the contest. Just six touches and three completed passes in the opening half-hour left the striker on the fringes of the action. He did carve out a half-chance, spinning inside the box and forcing a straightforward save from Athletic’s goalkeeper.

Gyokeres, who rattled in six Champions League strikes last season for Sporting, has arrived at Arsenal with a reputation for delivering under the European lights. Domestically, he has already opened his Premier League account with three goals in four games, but the expectation in north London is for him to transfer that scoring touch onto the biggest stage. His determination to play on despite a head wound will only endear him further to the Emirates faithful.