Arsenal cut the lead on Premier League leaders Liverpool to six points after beating Brentford 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Liverpool’s emphatic win over West Ham on Sunday night Arsenal have been steamrolled for the past few days, with a nine-point gap between the sides at the top. However, the Gunners began 2025 with a win to climb back into second place, but it was not without concern for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Brentford went into the game with an injury crisis, with Thomas Frank out for a nearly full Premier League side, but it was the home side, thanks to goalkeeper Mark Flecken’s availability, who took the lead through Brian Mbemo’s early strike (13).
Frank was asked before the game about possible interest in the striker from Premier League clubs and the Brentford boss laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could leave the club this month.Mbemo once again showed just how important he is For Brentford, a low strike past David Raya at his near post for his 11th league goal of the season.
It’s often said that football is a good wing game, and so it was again in this game as Ryan inexplicably let a shot from Keane Lewis-Potter slip through his fingers. clearing the ball from the goal line.
Arsenal equalized fifty-five seconds later, Thomas Partey’s low shot was well saved by Flecken, but Jesus (29) headed home his sixth goal in four games in all competitions as the visitors leveled at half-time.
Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Brentford
Arteta had work to do at the break as his side struggled for decent spells in the first half, and whatever the Spaniard told his side paid off as the Gunners scored twice in three minutes.
“Re-episode” rang out from the away side after Mikel Merino (50) headed home from close range after Flecken failed to deal with Ethan Nwaneri’s corner.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino celebrates scoring Gunners’ second goal against Brentford
The Gunners were celebrating three minutes and eight seconds later when Nwaneri, making his first league start, saw his cross cleared only by Gabriel Martinelli, who fired into the far corner to give his side breathing space.
Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring Arsenal’s third goal against Brentford
There shouldn’t be a dramatic comeback from Brentford, who suffered just their second home defeat in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches with a third straight league win and now have the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead to three points when they travel to Brighton; Sky Sports on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off), ahead of Liverpool and Manchester United on Super Sunday, also live; Sky Sports (Start at 16.30).
The key moment of the game.
At one end, Ryan kicked over his own goal line after nearly dropping the puck…
… 55 seconds later, Arsenal equalized through Jesus.
Arteta hails ‘big win’
Arsenal: boss Mikel Arteta:
“It’s a big win. They’re a really good team, very well coached and they’ve been exceptional at home.
“Especially when you go down a goal early in the game, it becomes a mountain to climb, but the team stayed patient. We had to manage the situation emotionally.
“We have to navigate through some difficult times.
“We started really fast and aggressive and adjusted again. We had some injuries and illnesses and we had to play with different players.”
Will Arsenal be able to put pressure on Liverpool?
Sky Sports’ Oliver Yun at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The way Brentford have played at home this season, this was never going to be easy for Arsenal.
However, after facing many challenges in the opening 45 minutes, they came through a tough test to claim a significant victory in the title race.
Jesus celebrates scoring Arsenal’s first goal
It now allows the Gunners to try and put some pressure on Liverpool, who were in danger of relegation ahead of the clash with Man Utd. Super Sunday!.
Before then, the Gunners travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton Saturday night football and a win would see them cut the gap on the Reds to three points, with Slott’s side two games in hand.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said his team was only focused on doing their job. “We can only win our next game and see what happens,” he said. “It’s not in our hands, but what’s in our hands, we have to make sure we do it.”
Liverpool have been cruising in recent weeks, but if Arsenal can sneak into the rear-view mirror at Anfield, the pressure can do funny things.
It’s a long season. I can see why Arne Slott says “we haven’t won anything yet”. They don’t shoot completely. It will go right to the end.
Nwaneri stakes claim to fill Saka’s shoes
Ethan Nwaneri made his first Premier League start against Brentford
Still in September 2022, Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history at 15 years and 181 days when he came on as a substitute for Arsenal against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Handed his first Premier League start at the same ground, he filled in quite brilliantly for Bukayo Sakai on the right, taking corners and really playing a major hand in the third goal as Arsenal roared.
In the first half, he was the only player to complete all his passes (17/17), while he also created two chances, a figure bettered only by Martinelli (3). In total, Nwaneri conceded the ball just twice.
It was a performance that impressed Arsenal boss Arteta. “It’s really good. He gave us all the right reasons during training. He is an academy player and he has to play because he deserves it.
On why he started the 17-year-old, he added: “It wasn’t because of a mistake in that position, it was because he was the best player to play in that position.”
At 17 years 286 days, Nwaneri became the third youngest player to start a Premier League game for Arsenal, behind Cesc Fabregas (17 years 103 days against Everton in August 2004) and Theo Walcott (17 years 212 days against Watford against in October 2006).
Baby steps for the teenager, but he has added another option for Arteta in Sakha’s absence.
Game history in statistics…
Opta Statistics: Capital gains for gunmen
- Arsenal have taken more points in Premier League London derbies this season (14) than any other team, while no team has fewer points in such matches this season than Brentford (4, equal with Crystal Palace).
- Brentford are the only team to have kept a clean sheet in the Premier League this season, indeed the Bees have gone 11 consecutive home league games without a clean sheet (13) for the first time since October 2007.
- Arsenal have scored nine goals from corners in the Premier League this season, the most of any side, and indeed five of the Gunners’ last 12 goals have come from corners.
“To beat Arsenal you have to be perfect”
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:
“You have to play a perfect game against Arsenal, one of the two best teams in the league, probably in the world.
“I’m happy with the game, especially the first half, and I also thought the second half wasn’t too bad. we just conceded two goals.
“I think the overall performance was good, maybe too good, but the big moments we didn’t take them well enough, especially the three defensive moments.”
