Mikel Arteta claimed that Arsenal are in survival mode after suffering another two injuries before their nervy 2-1 victory over Brighton.
Jurrien Timber picked up an injury on Friday, while Riccardo Calafiori was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly just minutes before kick-off due to pulling up in the warm up. That added to a defensive injury list already including Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White.
It resulted in Declan Rice slotting in at right back where he put in another solid performance to help the Gunners return to the top of the Premier League table by two points after Manchester City’s victory against Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.
Arteta said: ‘Jurrien landed awkwardly and there's something with Richy (Calafiori).
‘it’s very, very strange but you speak to Declan and tell him he needs to play as a right wing (back), and he said, “Okay, I'm up for a challenge, I'm going to do my best”.
‘The attitude is great to witness.’
The north London club seemed on track for a comfortable victory at 2-0 up, before Diego Gomez’s strike created a nervy finish.
Substitute Yankuba Minteh drew a magnificent save from David Raya as Arsenal hung on to the three points.
Arteta added: ‘We were a big threat, so very pleased with all of that, but the margin should have been much bigger.
‘I mean the amount of situations, chances, open chances that we generated through the game, it should never be 2-1, but that's the Premier League.
‘I think the first shot that they had, they scored the goal and then David (Raya) has to make another save to maintain the result.
‘We have a lot of issues (with injuries), and we're dealing with it in an incredible way. Declan has to play as a full back and you see the performance that he put in, so that's the spirit and that's how much our players want it.’