Arsenal sweat on duo ahead of Aston Villa test

“We don’t know. We are going to have to test them,” he said. “They had to come off which is never good news but let’s see.”

The Premier League leaders face a quick turnaround heading into Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at third-placed Villa, who sit six points behind them in the table.

Arteta, who will give an update on squad news on Friday, could have William Saliba back after he missed the second match in succession with a knock sustained in training last week.

His long-time central defensive partner, Gabriel Magalhaes, is not expected back until after Christmas.

The injury setbacks have not disrupted the Gunners’ progress with the win over Brentford restoring their five-point advantage over Manchester City at the summit.

Arteta’s team are unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions since losing 1-0 at Liverpool in late August and kept their eighth Premier League clean sheet of the season in beating the Bees.

Mikel Merino scored his fourth goal in six matches while continuing his impressive stint as “emergency” striker in the absence of the injured Victor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus.

“He was immense again,” said Arteta of Merino. “He’s everywhere, and he has got really good momentum. He makes the team much better.

“It’s his curiosity and his will to learn, and probably his will to help the team. He knew that we had a major problem: we lost Viktor, Kai (Havertz) was out and Jesus was out. So we needed a solution. 

“He did it last year really well and this season he has probably taken it to another step.”