Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 18 matches.

Arsenal kept the initiative in the Premier League title race with a routine 2-0 win over Brentford but Mikel Arteta fears it has come at a cost.

Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions with an eighth straight home win and stretched the gap at the top back to five points.

However the Gunners, already without first-choice centre-halves Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba through injury, were dealt a blow when another one, Cristhian Mosquera, limped off just before half-time.

Then, even more worryingly, Declan Rice, who had put in another huge performance, limped off with 10 minutes left with what appeared to be a calf problem.

With his sid

See Full Page