Arsenal have gone four points clear at the top of the Premier League but it may have come at a cost.
Eberechi Eze's goal handed Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, but the result was marred by defender William Saliba being substituted at the interval while Declan Rice limped off in the second half.
Piers Morgan reveals his private conversation with Mikel Arteta about Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres
Despite the risk of injuries to two key players unsettling the Gunners, they never skipped a beat as Cristhian Mosquera, who replaced Saliba, helped preserve a third-straight and sixth total clean sheet in the league.
How Arsenal matched feat not seen in seven years
Additionally, Arsenal's steely defence against Palace helped them to a 100th consecutive game in which they avoided conceding three goals in a game.
Mikel Arteta's side are just the second English team to have accomplished the remarkable feat alongside Manchester United, who did so between October 2016 and August 2018.
The mid-match loss of Saliba and Rice could leave Arteta with a selection headache for Wednesday's EFL Cup clash against Brighton.
Read more football news
Mosquera looms as a simple swap for Saliba, although Rice may be tougher to replace given he has featured in all 12 of Arsenal's fixtures this season.
Arteta provides injury update on Rice and Saliba
Speaking after the Palace win, Arteta conceded he didn't know the extent of Rice's injury 'because it was a knock'.
As for Saliba, Arteta confirmed he sustained a knock in the first half.
Before Rice departed the field, he made sure to have a big say in the final result as it was his free-kick that led to Eze's goal.
The England international whipped in a ball from the right side of the pitch and was headed back across goal by Gabriel, which was acrobatically put away by Eze.
It was a cruel sucker-punch for the travelling Eagles supporters given Eze left Palace in the summer to join Arsenal.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice limps off the field against Crystal Palace
3
Rice looked to be in some discomfort as he exited in the second half...Credit: Getty
Arsenal's William Saliba battles for the ball with Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta
3
While Saliba's half-time exit may spark a defensive re-shuffle for the Gunners in their next matchCredit: Getty
Alarming Gyokeres run continues
Although Eze took the plaudits thanks to his match-winning effort, the contest marked the fifth-straight game in which Viktor Gyokeres failed to score.
It was a performance to forget for the Swede as he registered just one shot across the entire contest.
Gyokeres also finished with just 27 touches of the ball, the fewest of the Arsenal players who started against Palace.
Given Gyokeres cost Arsenal an initial £55million in the summer, another goalless performance will heap pressure on him due to his tally of two open play goals in the league this term.
Gunners' title hopes boosted by Premier League rivals
Although Arteta may have been focused on the events in north London on Sunday, Arsenal fans will have been delighted about what unfolded in the West Midlands.
Arsenal were given a major boost in the title race courtesy of Matty Cash's left foot as his goal lifted Aston Villa to a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola cut a dejected figure after his side's loss to Aston Villa
3
Guardiola's side have lost their last three visits to Villa ParkCredit: Getty
Cash's stunning strike from outside the box helped Villa extend their unbeaten streak in the league to six games and condemned City to their third Premier League defeat this term.
The result also widened the gap between Arsenal and City, who are now fourth, to six points.
City's 16 points also leaves them level with cross-town rivals Manchester United, who are one place behind due to goal difference.
Read More on talkSPORT
In a table few could have predicted at the start of the season, Bournemouth and Sunderland round out the top four.
Bournemouth sit second on 18 points while Sunderland are one place and one point behind, with both teams picking up wins over Nottingham Forest and Chelsea respectively this weekend.