Article by Daniel Grigore – Published on Thursday, 04 December 2025, 08:30 / Updated on Thursday, 04 December 2025 08:31
Arsenal eased past Brentford 2-0 to move within five points of Manchester City, but manager Mikel Arteta has more than just reason to be happy. Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice claimed medical problems.
Through the goals of Mikel Merino (11th minute) and Bukayo Saka ('90+1), Arsenal got three precious points against Brentford, especially since Manchester City had won a night ago and had come within just two points.
However, there are also reasons for concern on Emirates. Stopper Cristhian Mosquera and midfielder Declan Rice went off injured along the way, the first before the end of the 1st half, the other in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Mosquera and Declan Rice are out injured in Arsenal v Brentford
“Obviously, it's not good news. Declan had to come out, but we don't have any more information now. We'll see tomorrow what happened to him. He couldn't play anymore. He can step, but he couldn't play anymore. Mosquera is also out, with Gabi and Willy also unavailable (no – Gabriel and Saliba, the starting central defenders).
We have to adapt, it's a recurring theme this season”, stated Arteta in the first phase.
Mikel Arteta protests: “Give us one more day! That would be great, thanks!”
Asked afterwards about the busy schedule, the Arsenal manager railed against the Premier League's calendar:
“Now we play on Wednesday night and we have another game on Saturday morning. Yes, we can play, but if they could give us a little more time to recover, to be able to ensure the welfare of these players, that would be great.
We could help not only the players, we would help everyone, including the championship. Give us an extra day [de odihnă]especially to those who play so much in Europe. And to everyone in general, because we would benefit from it.
We've never had a schedule like this before, with the Premier League and all the international competitions… So we have to try this please. It's about common sense. At some point it will be too much and the players are not robots“.
Arsenal's next game at Villa Park is scheduled for Saturday, 12:30 local time. Basically, just 63 hours after the end of the duel between the “gunners” and Brentford.
