Christmas looks to have come early for Arsenal fans.<\/p>\n
In Europe, they top the table with a perfect record while on the domestic front, Chelsea\u2019s surprise loss to Leeds<\/a> and Liverpool continuing to do Liverpool things<\/a> means their five-point gap at the top<\/a> is looking a very healthy one. Even a 5-4 win for Manchester City<\/a> came with the positive that Pep Guardiola\u2019s side can clearly be rattled.<\/p>\n Meanwhile at Arsenal, everything is looking rather comfortable. A 2-0 win against Brentford was about as regulation as a manager could hope for; the Gunners are unbeaten in the league since their August defeat to Liverpool, which now feels like it happened in a different lifetime. They have navigated a run of a derby, the visit of Bayern and a trip to Stamford Bridge with almost a 100% record and they do not play against one of the \u2018Big Six\u2019 again until January.<\/p>\n The odds then are very much on Mikel Arteta\u2019s side but if there is one thing that could scupper this title bid, it\u2019s their growing list of injuries.<\/p>\n While there were plenty of positives for Arsenal in the midweek win at home to Brentford, one negative was two more additions to an already busy treatment room. As their north London rivals experienced last year, the most impactful part of Arsenal\u2019s injury list is that they have been particularly hampered in one area: the defence.<\/p>\n The first hit to the best back four in the league came during the latest international break when Gabriel suffered an abductor issue while on duty with Brazil. The latest update from Arteta had him \u201cweeks\u201d away and his return may well come in the new year.<\/p>\n His centre-back partner William Saliba was a surprise absentee from the team sheet to face Chelsea last weekend having picked up a previously unreported \u2018knock\u2019 in training. That also kept him out against Brentford with Arteta describing it as \u201cvery bizarre\u201d, although it is hoped the Frenchman can return this weekend.<\/p>\n MORE ON ARSENAL ON F365<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Two Arsenal players lose their place in Premier League XI of season so far<\/a> To make matters worse, back-up centre-back Cristian Mosquera was subbed off in the first half against Brentford after contesting a header and perhaps most worryingly, the player was unable to tell his manager whether it was his knee or ankle that hurt.<\/p>\n Away from the defence, Arteta\u2019s heart would have sunk when Declan Rice plonked himself on the deck late on against Brentford. Rice has started 13 of Arsenal\u2019s 14 league games this year and nobody has provided more goals for the team this season, meaning any absence \u2013 even if only a game \u2013 will have a big impact.<\/p>\n After the game, Arteta was unable to diagnose the problem but said he \u201ccannot play\u201d. Further tests on Thursday will determine whether the England international will miss the trip to Villa this weekend.<\/p>\n The forward line is not free of injury either. Kai Havertz has been out since the opening weekend with a knee injury and a setback means his return will be later than initially hoped.<\/p>\n Leonardo Trossard is another player currently absent. He picked up a muscle injury against Bayern Munich but was expected to be fit for the Chelsea game. He has however not featured even on the bench yet.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Arsenal summer signing\u2019s nightmare continues vs Brentford as Carragher shamed<\/a>
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Arsenal must hijack Liverpool transfer, not sign new \u00a360m target for final piece of jigsaw for PL title<\/a><\/p>\n