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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the club’s resilience after they overcame yet another injury setback to secure a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League victory over Brighton on Saturday, keeping their title challenge firmly on track.
The Gunners’ preparations were disrupted when Dutch defender Jurrien Timber was injured in training on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to a squad already stretched thin.
Matters worsened on matchday when Italy full-back Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knock during the warm-up, ruling him out moments before kick-off.
With Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera also unavailable, Arteta was forced into further reshuffles. Youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was drafted in at left-back, while Declan Rice was asked to fill in at right-back, a role far removed from his usual midfield duties.
Despite the mounting fitness issues, Arsenal showed composure and determination to claim their third consecutive one-goal league win, reclaiming top spot from Manchester City, who had earlier beaten Nottingham Forest by the same scoreline.
Arteta hailed his side’s collective spirit and willingness to adapt under pressure, highlighting Rice’s response to being deployed out of position.
He said the midfielder embraced the challenge without hesitation, underlining the hunger and commitment running through the squad during a difficult period.
Injuries have plagued Arsenal for much of the past 18 months, though there were signs of relief with Gabriel Magalhaes making his first appearance since early November, coming off the bench in the second half.
However, Kai Havertz remains sidelined, and Arteta admitted his side are still in survival mode as the campaign enters a demanding phase.
The Arsenal manager stressed that while his team is coping admirably, the congested fixture schedule leaves little room for error. He acknowledged the need to regain players to maintain freshness, especially with matches arriving every three days.
On the pitch, Arsenal appeared in control after Martin Odegaard opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, before Brighton defender Georginio Rutter inadvertently doubled the lead with an own goal shortly after the break.
Brighton mounted a late push when Diego Gomez pulled one back midway through the second half, forcing goalkeeper David Raya into a crucial stoppage-time save from Yankuba Minteh to secure all three points.
Arteta admitted his side should have put the game beyond doubt earlier, pointing to several missed chances that allowed Brighton back into contention.
Nonetheless, he accepted that narrow margins are part of the Premier League reality and praised his players for seeing the match through.
Arsenal now face another stern test when they host fellow title contenders Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, in a fixture that could further shape the direction of the title race.
