Arsenal secured a vital 2-0 Premier League victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, but the win was marred by fresh injury concerns for manager Mikel Arteta.
Double Blow for Gunners as Key Players Limp Off
Midfielder Declan Rice was forced to leave the pitch with approximately ten minutes of normal time remaining, visibly struggling. The England international did not require assistance from medical staff to walk off, but he was later seen with his left calf strapped and iced after the full-time whistle.
In a further defensive headache, summer signing Cristhian Mosquera also failed to finish the match. The centre-back, who was starting due to the absences of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, limped off before half-time. This forced Arteta to bring on Jurrien Timber for the remainder of the contest against the Bees.
Arteta's Post-Match Assessment and Team News
Addressing the media after the match, Mikel Arteta confirmed both players would need assessment. "Declan had to come off, we will have to see tomorrow," the Arsenal boss stated. "Mosquera is the other. Saliba and Gabriel are out so we have to adapt."
When pressed for more detail on Rice's condition, Arteta added, "He couldn't carry on playing so he had to come off. He can walk..." The comments suggest the issue may not be catastrophic, but the club will be anxiously awaiting the results of Thursday's medical evaluation.
Victory Overshadowed by Fitness Worries
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal managed to collect all three points thanks to a first-half header from Mikel Merino and a late strike by Bukayo Saka. The result keeps pressure on the teams at the top of the table, but the potential loss of Rice, a pivotal figure in the engine room, would be a significant blow to their ambitions.
The coming days will be crucial for Arsenal's medical team as they assess the extent of the damage to both Rice and Mosquera, with a packed festive fixture list looming on the horizon.
