Overview
- Arsenal beat Brentford 2-0 to restore a five-point Premier League lead, with Mikel Merino scoring early and Bukayo Saka adding stoppage-time insurance.
- Declan Rice was substituted in the 83rd minute with a calf problem; Arteta said he "can walk" but "cannot play" pending assessment.
- Centre-back Cristhian Mosquera limped off before half-time with an issue described as in the knee or ankle area, leaving his status unclear.
- The injuries compound absences for first-choice defenders William Saliba, out after a training knock, and Gabriel Magalhaes, whom Arteta says is still weeks away.
- Arsenal now travel to Aston Villa on Saturday before facing Club Brugge on December 10, as Arteta urges schedulers to allow more recovery time.