Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing machine is sputtering, not from a lack of quality, but from a lack of fit bodies. As Arsenal prepares for a tricky short trip to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford, the Gunners are staring down the barrel of a genuine injury crisis, with up to 12 first-team players potentially sidelined or doubtful.

The timing could not be worse. With Manchester City breathing down their necks and the margin for error in the Premier League title race practically non-existent, Arsenal needs every point. Yet, the physio room at London Colney is busier than the training pitch. The headline concern remains Bukayo Saka. The talismanic winger has been managing a hip issue, and his absence strips Arsenal of their primary creative outlet on the right flank. Without him, the Gunners’ attack often looks one-dimensional, a fact Brentford manager Thomas Frank will be keen to exploit.

The Walking Wounded

It is not just Saka. Captain Martin Odegaard is also a major doubt, leaving a creative void in the engine room. Leandro Trossard, often the super-sub capable of unlocking tight defenses, was forced off in the previous match, adding to Arteta’s headache. The manager was characteristically coy in his press conference, refusing to rule players in or out, a classic tactic to keep Brentford guessing. "We will see," was the mantra, but the grimaces on the training ground tell a different story.

The list of absentees extends to long-term victims like Tomiyasu and Timber, stretching the squad’s depth to its breaking point. Youngsters may be called upon to fill the bench, a risky strategy in a physical London derby. Brentford, meanwhile, are not without their own issues—Kevin Schade is suspended—but they will smell blood in the water. The Bees relish playing spoiler against the big boys, and a depleted Arsenal side is the perfect target.

• Defensive Shuffle: If the defensive injuries persist, Arteta may be forced to field a makeshift backline. Ben White and Gabriel remain the pillars, but fatigue is setting in. The lack of rotation options means the starters are being run into the ground.
• The Havertz Factor: With Odegaard potentially out, the burden falls on Kai Havertz to orchestrate the play. The German has shown flashes of brilliance but will need to produce a commanding 90-minute performance if Arsenal is to leave West London with three points.

Title Credentials on the Line

Games like this are where titles are won or lost. It is easy to win when the XI is fit and firing; it is a mark of champions to grind out a result on a rainy Thursday night with half the squad in the treatment room. Arsenal’s resilience has been their trademark this season, but the physical toll is mounting.

Arteta knows that excuses—even valid ones like injuries—do not appear in the history books. He needs a solution, and he needs it fast. If Arsenal drops points at Brentford, the momentum could swing decisively to Manchester, leaving the Gunners to rue yet another season derailed by the fragility of their squad.