Mikel Arteta confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White both went off with injuries after Arsenal edged out West Ham in a nerve-shredding 1-0 win at the London Stadium.
Leandro Trossard’s deflected 83rd-minute effort proved decisive as the Gunners restored their five-point lead over Manchester City with just two games remaining of the Premier League season.
Arsenal had to come 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 in the build-up, a highly controversial moment likely to have major repercussions at both ends of the division come the end of the campaign.
The result kept Arsenal’s hopes of a historic double alive as Arteta’s men took a giant step towards a first league title in 22 years, but injuries to Calafiori and White took some of the shine off an otherwise momentous weekend for the leaders.
Calafiori’s withdrawal at the midway point was initially assumed to be a tactical decision, but Arteta confirmed after the final whistle that the Italy international was forced off with an unspecified problem.
White, meanwhile, was taken off following a heavy challenge with Crysencio Summerville in the 28th minute, and the defender looked in some discomfort as he hobbled off the field to be replaced by Martin Zubimendi.
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The England international was later pictured leaving the stadium 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] but it doesn’t look good at all.
‘He needs some further testing tomorrow probably and I will know a bit more.’
Turning his attentions to Arsenal’s display, Arteta applauded his players for their efforts against a West Ham side ‘fighting for their lives’ at the wrong end of the table.
Martin Odegaard – who came on and assisted Trossard’s winning goal – and David Raya received special praise for their contribution at either end of the pitch to help get the Gunners over the line.
‘What a moment, what an afternoon, what a week it has been for us, full of emotions,’ Arteta continued.
‘I cannot praise enough the attitude, the desire, the courage and the quality that the team has shown throughout this week because there was so much at stake.
‘Today we knew that against a team fighting for their lives, a club with an incredible history. We knew how tough it was going to be.
‘We started the game so well, created three big chances to go in front and we didn’t manage to do that so we had to keep our heads cool.
‘We then had the Ben White injury and we had to make an adjustment there. After half-time, we had to make another 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 game is not panning out then we were going to have to change it.
‘The finishers made the difference. Martin had an incredible impact in the game, an action that leaves Leandro in a top position to score the goal.
‘There are then two moments: one is David’s save at 0-0, which is the story of the season, and the other one was in the most chaotic circumstances when two teams and playing for their lives.’
On his side being just two matches away from the title, Arteta went on: ‘Now we leave and enjoy what we have done today, because as I said it has been an incredible week.
‘Those players, the way they are standing in front of the opportunity and showing resilience is remarkable and recover a little bit and start to prepare for Burnley.’
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