Arsenal reduce Liverpool’s lead on the high of the Premier League to 6 factors after staging a comeback victory to beat Brentford 3-1 on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium.
Liverpool’s emphatic win over West Ham on Sunday evening had left Arsenal stewing over the previous few days, with the hole on the high between the edges 9 factors. Nevertheless, the Gunners began 2025 with a win to maneuver again as much as second, nevertheless it was not with out concern for Mikel Arteta’s facet.
Brentford got here into the sport with considerably of an damage disaster as Thomas Frank had close to sufficient a full Premier League crew out on the sidelines. Nevertheless, it was the hosts, boosted by the supply of goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who took the lead by way of Bryan Mbeumo’s early strike (13).
Frank was requested about potential curiosity within the ahead from Premier League golf equipment forward of the sport and the Brentford boss laughed off options the 25-year-old may depart the membership this month. Mbeumo confirmed as soon as once more how essential he’s to this Brentford facet, nestling a low strike previous David Raya at his close to submit for his eleventh league objective of the season.
It’s often mentioned soccer is a recreation of high-quality margins. It proved to be the case once more on this match as Raya inexplicably let Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot slip by way of his fingers. The ball bounced agonisingly in direction of objective however Raya reacted rapidly and leapt again to claw the ball off the objective line.
Fifty-five seconds later and Arsenal had been stage. Thomas Partey’s low shot was nicely saved by Flekken however Jesus (29) pounced to go house the rebound from shut vary for his sixth objective in 4 video games in all competitions because the guests restored parity heading into the break.
Arteta had work to do on the interval as his facet had struggled for respectable chunks within the first half, and regardless of the Spaniard mentioned to his facet, it had the specified impact, with the Gunners scoring twice in three minutes.
‘Set-piece once more’ sounded out from the away finish after Mikel Merino (50) swept house from shut vary after Flekken had did not take care of Ethan Nwaneri’s nook.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino celebrates scoring the Gunners’ second objective vs Brentford
The Gunners had been celebrating three minutes and eight seconds later as Nwaneri, who was making his first league begin, noticed his cross cleared solely so far as Gabriel Martinelli, who steered a shot into the far nook to present his facet respiration area.
Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring Arsenal’s third objective in opposition to Brentford
There was to be no dramatic comeback from Brentford, who suffered simply their second house defeat of the season within the Premier League.
In the meantime, Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches with a 3rd straight league win. They now have the possibility to chop Liverpool’s result in three factors once they face a visit to Brighton, stay on Sky Sports activities on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm), forward of Liverpool’s conflict with Manchester United on Tremendous Sunday, additionally stay on Sky Sports activities (kick-off 4.30pm).
The sport’s key second?
At one finish, Raya clawed a shot from his objective line after almost dropping a clanger…
… 55 seconds later Arsenal had been stage by way of Jesus.
Will Arsenal take likelihood to place strain on Liverpool?
Sky Sports activities’ Oliver Yew on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium:
The way in which Brentford have been taking part in at house this season, this was by no means going to be simple for Arsenal.
Nevertheless, after dealing with loads of adversity within the opening 45 minutes, they got here by way of a tough take a look at for a big win within the title race.
Jesus celebrates scoring the opener for Arsenal
It now permits the Gunners to attempt to put some strain on Liverpool, who’ve been threatening to run away with the league, forward of their conflict with Man Utd on Tremendous Sunday.
Earlier than that, the Gunners journey to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton on Saturday Evening Soccer and a win would see them reduce the hole to the Reds to 3 factors with Slot’s facet having two video games in hand.
Talking after the sport, Arteta mentioned his facet had been solely targeted on doing their job. “We can only win our next match and see what happens,” he mentioned. “It’s not in our hands, but what is in our hands we need to make sure we do it.”
Liverpool have been cruising in current weeks but when Arsenal can sneak up within the rear-view mirror of the Anfield facet, strain can do humorous issues.
Nwaneri stakes declare to fill Saka’s boots
Ethan Nwaneri made his first Premier League begin in opposition to Brentford
Again in September 2022, Ethan Nwaneri turned the youngest participant in Premier League historical past, aged 15 years and 181 days, when he got here on as an alternative to Arsenal in opposition to Brentford on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium.
Handed his first Premier League begin on the similar floor, he stuffed in fairly brilliantly for Bukayo Saka on the proper facet, taking corners and certainly taking part in a serious hand within the third objective as Arsenal roared again.
Within the first half, he was the one participant to finish all of his passes (17/17), whereas he additionally created two probabilities, a determine solely bettered by Martinelli (3). In all, Nwaneri gave the ball away simply twice.
It was a efficiency that impressed Arsenal boss Arteta. “Really good. In training he gave us all the right reasons. He is an academy player and he needs to play because he deserves it.
On why he started the 17-year-old, he added: “In that place it wasn’t due to the bug. It was as a result of he was one of the best participant to play within the place.”
Aged 17 years and 286 days, Nwaneri was the third-youngest participant to start out a Premier League recreation for Arsenal, after Cesc Fabregas (17 years 103 days vs Everton in August 2004) and Theo Walcott (17 years 212 days vs Watford in October 2006).
Child steps for {the teenager} however he has added another choice for Arteta in Saka’s absence.
Story of the match in stats…
Opta stats: Capital positive factors for Gunners
- Arsenal have picked up extra factors in Premier League London derbies this season (14) than every other facet, whereas no facet has fewer factors in such matches this time period than Brentford (4, stage with Crystal Palace).
- Brentford are the one facet but to maintain a clear sheet at house within the Premier League this season. Certainly, the Bees have gone 11 successive house league matches and not using a shutout for the primary time since October 2007 (13).
- Arsenal have scored 9 Premier League objectives from nook conditions this season, probably the most of any facet. Certainly, 5 of the Gunners’ final 12 league objectives have come through corners.
