Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford that leaves them just four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta made four changes to the Arsenal starting line-up, bringing in Viktor Gyokeres, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Eberechi Eze. The first half was limited in terms of goalmouth action, although at about the midway stage David Raya pulled off a fine save from a point-blank effort from Igor Thiago. The visitors had only one shot before the break.
Arteta switched Eze out for Martin Odegaard at half-time — and an upturn in performance followed. Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, with Noni Madueke meeting a Hincapie cross before heading it beyond Caoimhin Kelleher — but their lead only lasted nine minutes, with Keane Lewis-Potter levelling after a well-worked throw-in in the 70th minute.
Arsenal did have a late chance to win it — but Gabriel Martinelli’s strike was saved by Kelleher in the 94th minute.
The Athletic’s Art de Roché breaks down the key talking points from Thursday’s game.
How important could that Martinelli saved chance be?
Martinelli has often been the man for the big moments this season, but was unlucky to see his last-gasp effort smothered by Kelleher.
With so little time to think, the forward reverted to a far-post finish that he executed multiple times for Arsenal, but the save means that Arsenal have now dropped points in four of their seven Premier League games since New Year’s Day.
While Arteta’s side are still four points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, draws can often seep momentum away from title runs.
Both sides had opportunities to win the game, but the feeling of missed opportunities cannot become too common a theme for Arsenal as they reach the end of the season.
In the four games that Arsenal have dropped points in this calendar year, this draw was most similar to their 0-0 at Nottingham Forest. They may have scored this time, but a poor first half left them chasing in the second — and with little room for error. They would have felt a harsh sense of deja vu when Lewis-Potter equalised for the hosts, too, as it was reminiscent of a goal they conceded from a long throw at the same ground during Brentford’s first-ever Premier League match in August 2021.
Leaving matches open for the opposition has been an issue even in games that Arsenal have won this season. Arteta will not want that to end up defining their race with Manchester City come May.
Arsenal face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup this weekend, but even if their next league fixture is against rock bottom Wolves, the December meeting between the sides — when Arsenal only won in added-time — should be enough to ensure they go into that fixture switched on from the first whistle.
Did Arsenal rotate too much?
Arteta made four changes to a Premier League line-up for just a second time this season — and once again failed to win.
The first time came between the January matches against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. Arsenal started that 3-2 loss to Manchester United well, but the changes this time around resulted in a more disjointed first half at the GTECH Community Stadium.
Gyokeres and Hincapie have been regular starters recently, but Mosquera and Eze made their first starts in the league since December 3 and 13, respectively. Mosquera once again showed a maturity beyond his 21 years in the way he defended against Igor Thiago throughout the game with William Saliba absent, but Eze and his fellow midfielders struggled to bring both control and threat to proceedings.
Arsenal’s one shot was their lowest in a Premier League first half since a 5-0 defeat at Manchester City in September 2021, while Brentford also had a period of five minutes with 91 per cent possession (between the 20th and 25th minute).
Martin Odegaard brought more threat instantly after coming on in the second half, finding Hincapie within a minute to put Arsenal on the front foot. The waves of Arsenal attacks that followed down their left then proved instrumental, as it was Hincapie who found Madueke to break the deadlock.
The return of Bukayo Saka was another bonus, even if he could not help Arsenal regain the lead.
Why was Eze hooked at half-time on a rare start?
This was Eze’s first Premier League start in 10 matchdays — his last was the 2-1 win over Wolves on December 13 — but the midfielder did not seize the opportunity.
The 27-year-old was a bystander in the first half, with Odegaard matching his tally of nine completed passes from an attempted 11 within just 10 minutes of replacing him for the second period.
Eze made a promising start to his Arsenal career in the autumn, but has struggled for consistency and rhythm in the winter. Eze’s recent spell in and out of the starting line-up has coincided with both Odegaard and Kai Havertz returning to fitness. Prior to that, his north London derby hat-trick was proof he can provide the ‘magic moments’ Arteta deems so important.
Asked earlier this month whether that quality needs to be seen more consistently, Arteta said: “Yes, you have to impact the game consistently throughout 96 minutes at this level. Any phase, any action is the most important action and on top of that, you have to be able to add other values. In his case, he is very, very good and unique at creating those magic moments. So that is the demand of each player.”
Given this is the second time Eze has been taken off at half-time, the first being after a lapse in concentration that resulted in a goal away to Aston Villa, he will need to impress on his next outing.
Eze was taken off as a substitute at half-time (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
What did Arteta say?
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: “(This is) a really tough place to come. They were always going to dominate for long periods. If the ball is in the channel, they can win those throw-ins and set pieces, then it becomes like a casino.
“After the goal, we lacked the composure to keep the ball better, to stay in the right areas, to stay disciplined. They started to win territory and dominate set pieces.”
Asked about the four-point gap to City, he added: “I always pay the same attention, we always have to do our job and come to these places the same, to be at your best every game.”
What next for Arsenal?
Sunday, February 15: Wigan (Home), FA Cup fourth round, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET
