Arsenal v Brentford live: Gunners extend Premier League lead but suffer more injury woe

Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka were on target as Arsenal kept the initiative in the Premier League title race with a routine 2-0 win over Brentford.

There was none of the chaos of Manchester City’s 5-4 win at Fulham 24 hours earlier which moved them temporarily to within two points of the Gunners.

Instead it was business as usual at the Emirates, with Arsenal extending their unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions with an eighth straight home win, another clean sheet, and stretching the gap at the top back to five points.

The main worry for the Gunners was centre-back Cristhian Mosquera being forced off injured, adding to a defensive crisis that has also seen William Saliba and Gabriel sidelined. But they could celebrate moving five points clear at the top of the table once more.

Ben White impressed at right-back for Arsenal this evening and he discussed the victory with Sky Sports after the match.

“It was a nice win,” he said. “I’ve not played too many games this season because the boys have been unbelievable.

“We’re supporting everyone, whoever is playing and whoever is not. We’re sticking together and when getting the chance, performing as high as you can.

“Training every day with all these players is unbelievable. There are players getting no minutes who would start for any other team.

“We’ve just got to take it game by game. It’s such a long season, we don't want to get complacent. We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing.”

Here are the highlights from that Arsenal win.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run now stands at 18 games. They are absolutely flying and marching ever closer to the Premier League title.

A job well done by them tonight

All over at the Emirates. Arsenal were superb in the first half and although they laboured slightly at points in the second half, Bukayo Saka sealed it in injury-time.

It’s another victory, Arsenal’s long unbeaten run continues and they’re back to five points clear at the top. Job done and on to Saturday where top-four hopefuls Aston Villa await.

The Arsenal fans are in full voice now! Just a couple of minutes left and they know their side are extending their lead atop the Premier League

Into six minutes of injury time and NOW IT IS 2-0!

Merino slides a lovely ball through to Bukayo Saka. He cuts inside his defender and gets a shot off. Kelleher gets a hand to it but can only slow it down as it loops over him and he hares back but the ball crosses the line before he can knock it clear. A bit unlucky for Kelleher but Saka has sealed it!

That was the moment for Arsenal. Calafiori cuts infield, makes it to the edge of the box and strikes for goal, where Kelleher dives and pushes the ball out.

But it’s straight to Saka, eight yards out, tries to turn it in with his left foot but he’s falling backawards and it’s wide. Should be 2-0

Dangerous ball into the Arsenal box but it bounces through. Eze tries to launch a counter but is stopped around halfway.

Back underway. Hincapie and Thiago both still on the pitch.

Arsenal stroking the ball around, watching the seconds tick away. There’ll be plenty of injury-time so Brentford will have at least one good chance you’d think