Mikel Arteta confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White each went off with injuries after Arsenal edged out West Ham in a nerve-shredding 1-0 win on the London Stadium.
Leandro Trossard’s deflected 83rd-minute effort proved decisive because the Gunners restored their five-point lead over Manchester City with just two games remaining of the Premier League season.
Arsenal had to return through a moment of late drama to emerge with maximum points, though, as Callum Wilson saw a last-gasp strike disallowed for a foul following a lengthy VAR check.
Replays showed West Ham forward Pablo with an arm across David Raya within the build-up, a highly controversial moment prone to have major repercussions at each ends of the division come the top of the campaign.
The result kept Arsenal’s hopes of a historic double alive as Arteta’s men took an enormous step towards a primary league title in 22 years, but injuries to Calafiori and White took among the shine off an otherwise momentous weekend for the leaders.
Calafiori’s withdrawal on the midway point was initially assumed to be a tactical decision, but Arteta confirmed after the ultimate whistle that the Italian was forced off with an unspecified problem.
White, meanwhile, was taken off following a heavy challenge with Crysencio Summerville within the twenty eighth minute, and the defender looked in some discomfort as he hobbled off the sphere to get replaced by Martin Zubimendi.
The England international was later pictured making his way out of the stadium through the mixed zone wearing a knee brace.
Asked for an update on White’s condition at this post-match press conference, the Arsenal head coach told reporters: ‘We don’t know [the severity] however it doesn’t look good in any respect.
‘He needs some further testing tomorrow probably and I’ll know a bit more.’
Turning his attentions to Arsenal’s display, Arteta applauded his players for his or her efforts against a West Ham side ‘fighting for his or her lives’ on the incorrect end of the table.
Martin Odegaard – who got here on and assisted Trossard’s winning goal – and David Raya received special praise for his or her contribution at either end of the pitch to assist get the Gunners over the road.
‘What a moment, what a day, what every week it has been for us, filled with emotions,’ Arteta continued.
‘I cannot praise enough the attitude, the need, the courage and the standard that the team has shown throughout this week because there was a lot at stake.
‘Today we knew that against a team fighting for his or her lives, a club with an incredible history. We knew how tough it was going to be.
‘We began the sport so well, created three big probabilities to go in front and we didn’t manage to do this so we had to maintain our heads cool.
‘We then had the Ben White injury and we needed to make an adjustment there. After half-time, we needed to make one other one with Riccardo Calafiori’s injury.
‘After that that I said to the boys, “We’re really going to go for it so be ready”, because if the sport is just not panning out then we were going to need to change it.
‘The finishers made the difference. Martin had an incredible impact in the sport, an motion that leaves Leandro in a top position to attain the goal.
‘There are then two moments: one is David’s save at 0-0, which is the story of the season, and the opposite one was in essentially the most chaotic circumstances when two teams and playing for his or her lives.’
On his side being just two matches away from the title, Arteta went on: ‘Now we leave and luxuriate in what we’ve done today, because as I said it has been an incredible week.
‘Those players, the best way they’re standing in front of the chance and showing resilience is remarkable and get well a bit bit and begin to arrange for Burnley.’
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