Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal side for their resilience after battling through illness to claim a crucial 3-1 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Despite a virus affecting several players, Arsenal overturned an early Bryan Mbeumo goal thanks to strikes from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli, keeping the pressure on league leaders Liverpool.
Kai Havertz was sidelined for the match due to illness, with Arteta confirming that the bug had impacted others in the squad. However, he remains hopeful that Havertz will recover in time for Saturday’s match against Brighton.
Asked about whether his squad could cope with a hectic January schedule of nine matches, Arteta insisted he trusts his team’s adaptability but acknowledged the risks of further disruptions.
“When I see the willingness of each individual to play through anything and the versatility that we can create within our idea then the answer is no,” Arteta said when asked if the squad was stretched too thin.
“But we don’t know if something else happens then we may have other issues. These things happen – in this period there are always throat infections and viruses. We need everybody.”
The match also marked a significant moment for 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who made his first Premier League start more than two years after becoming the youngest player in the competition’s history at this very ground.
Nwaneri impressed, contributing to Arsenal’s second and third goals, including delivering the corner for Merino’s header. Arteta emphasised that Nwaneri’s inclusion was based on his readiness rather than the squad’s health issues.
“In that position it wasn’t because of the bug – I made it because I thought he was the best player to play in that position at the start of the game,” Arteta said. “And because there was a story there with him making his Premier League debut. Sometimes that feeling comes in and you think it’s the right one.”
Arsenal’s set-piece strength was evident once again, with Merino’s goal bringing their tally from corners to nine this season. Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted Arsenal’s organisation caught his team off guard. “I need to look more into it, but they are very good at it and it’s something we need to learn from,” he said.
As Arsenal prepare for Saturday’s trip to Brighton, Arteta’s rallying call underlines the importance of every player stepping up in difficult circumstances. Their ability to overcome this illness will be crucial in maintaining momentum during a gruelling month.
