LONDON -- Mikel Arteta said an unprecedented fixture calendar is responsible for Arsenal 's ongoing injury problems after two more players limped off in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Brentford .

The Gunners restored their five-point lead at the top of the table through goals from Mikel Merino and substitute Bukayo Saka at Emirates Stadium but the win came at a price as both Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice were unable to complete the game.

Mosquera was replaced before half-time with a "knee or ankle" problem while Rice appeared to suffer a calf issue as he was withdrawn with seven minutes remaining.

Arsenal have missed a number of players for extended periods this season -- Viktor Gyökeres , Martin Ødegaard , Gabriel Magalhães and Kai Havertz among them -- and the Gun

See Full Page