ARTETA PROUD OF FIGHT DESPITE WOES

Gunners eke out another single-goal win against Brighton even with string of injuries

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Mikel Arteta praised Arsenal's refusal to let their English Premier League title challenge be ruined by injuries, after they survived another debilitating 24 hours to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 on Dec 27.

His side were rocked by an injury to Dutch defender Jurrien Timber in training on Dec 26.

As if that was not bad enough, Italy fullback Riccardo Calafiori joined Arsenal’s growing list of walking wounded when he picked up a knock during the pre-match warmup before the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera were also ruled out, so Myles Lewis-Skelly came in at left-back and England midfielder Declan Rice started at right-back.

Despite their fitness problems, Arsenal ground out their third successive victory by a one-goal margin in the league to reclaim first place from Manchester City, who won 2-1 at Nottingham Forest a few hours earlier.

Hailing Arsenal’s spirit and togetherness in adversity, Arteta said: “What I like is that we are having a lot of issues and we are dealing with it in an incredible way.