Arsenal maintained their status at the summit in the Premier League with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners showcased their superiority with a strong attacking display, lifted by Viktor Gyökeres, who’s starting to pick up form having scored six across all competitions since the New Year. However, after Manchester City’s last-gasp win over Liverpool they still know that there’s little margin for error with fixtures against Brentford, Wigan Athletic and Wolves all coming in the space of six days.
Mikel Arteta will need to manage the squad well during this period and faces a series of challenges in terms of selection due to injuries.
Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were just two of the notable absentees from the matchday squad against Sunderland, with Leandro Trossard also being subbed off late in the game with a possible injury.
Martin Odegaard injury latest
The Arsenal captain impressed off the bench at Elland Road, but has not been able to follow up on his assist for Gabriel Jesus in the 4-0 win at Leeds due to injury.
The former Real Madrid playmaker missed the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Chelsea due to a muscle problem which also prevented him from being involved over the weekend.
He’s believed to be edging closer to full fitness, with Arteta predicting that it’s only a matter of days before the 27-year-old returns to action.
Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard injury updates
Disaster struck for Arsenal in the warm-up prior to the 4-0 win over Leeds as Saka was forced to pull out of the starting line-up. The England international is currently struggling with a hip problem which also kept him out over the weekend.
Saka is believed to be targeting a return for the North London derby towards the end of the month but is unlikely to be involved against Brentford.
Elsewhere, Trossard could be another absentee on the wing, although the severity of his injury is not fully clear. He was subbed off in the 89th minute during the 3-0 win over Sunderland. As it stands, he’s a doubt for the Brentford game, with an update likely to come before the match.
Spanish international Mikel Merino is also a huge miss during the title run-in. He’s out until May with a foot injury which is likely to require surgery. The former Newcastle United man’s versatility has been crucial in the club’s success this season.
Teenage sensation Max Dowman, who dazzled in pre-season, remains on the sidelines with an ankle ligament injury sustained in December. At the time, it was reported that he’d be out of action for around two months, which would put him on track to return later this month.