Arteta Warns Arsenal Injury Problems Could Derail Premier League Title Push

Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Brentford, yet the night ended with unease after key players Declan Rice and Cristhian Mosquera were forced off. The victory pushed Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 matches, with eight straight wins at the Emirates Stadium. Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka kept the team’s momentum intact, but the growing injury list has created fresh concern.

Mosquera’s departure shortly before halftime added to an already stretched defensive unit that is missing Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. The situation deepened when Declan Rice appeared to struggle with a calf issue late in the game and was substituted with ten minutes left. Arteta addressed the worry after the match, saying, “Obviously, it’s never good news. Declan had to come off. We don’t know. We have to see tomorrow what he’s got.” He added that Rice’s condition remained unclear, explaining, “Declan can walk. He cannot play. The thing is, he’s played a lot of minutes but as well, now we played Wednesday night and we have to play Saturday morning as well.”

How serious are Arsenal’s injury setbacks?

Arteta is also navigating the temporary absences of Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard, stretching his squad during a demanding fixture period. The team had already pushed through a challenging schedule that included victories over Tottenham and Bayern Munich and a draw with Chelsea. To ease the load, Arteta initially rested Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze against Brentford. However, each of them eventually came off the bench, underscoring the limited options available.

The manager’s frustration grew as he discussed the wider impact of the schedule on player fitness and continuity. With another important clash ahead against an in-form Aston Villa side in Saturday’s early kick-off, the timing has done little to help their recovery needs.

Is the Premier League schedule adding pressure on Arsenal?

Arteta did not hide his disappointment with the quick turnaround and highlighted the strain placed on his squad. He said, “Rest, that’s quite a positive word to use. We had to make some changes.” Reflecting on the congested week, he added, “We had a very demanding week at every level. We were asked to play three days later, with one less recovery day than them.” He urged for more consideration from the league, stating, “We can play minutes but if they can please give us just a little more time to recover and to make the welfare of these players a little bit easier, that would be great.”

Arsenal’s position remains strong, but the coming days could be defining. With multiple injuries stacking up and a crucial trip to Villa Park approaching, their title hopes may depend on how quickly key players return and how effectively the squad handles the relentless schedule.

By Yockshard Enyendi