• Manager says team is not too stretched in hectic schedule
• Ethan Nwaneri picked on merit in Saka’s role at Brentford

Mikel Arteta praised his players’ ­fortitude after a patched-up Arsenal side overcame a sickness bug in the squad to defeat Brentford and keep up the pressure on Liverpool.

Kai Havertz was forced to miss the trip to west London because of illness but goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli enabled Arteta’s side to recover from going behind to Bryan Mbeumo’s 11th league goal of the season. The ­victory leaves them six points behind the leaders, albeit from a game more, before Saturday’s visit to Brighton.