Arsenal cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to six points after staging a comeback victory to beat Brentford 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Liverpool’s emphatic win over West Ham on Sunday night had left Arsenal stewing over the last few days, with the gap at the top between the sides nine points. However, the Gunners started 2025 with a win to move back up to second, but it was not without concern for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Brentford came into the game with somewhat of an injury crisis as Thomas Frank had near enough a full Premier League team out on the sidelines. However, it was the hosts, boosted by the availability of goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo’s early strike (13).
Frank was asked about potential interest in the forward from Premier League clubs ahead of the game and the Brentford boss laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could leave the club this month. Mbeumo showed once again how crucial he is to this Brentford side, nestling a low strike past David Raya at his near post for his 11th league goal of the season.
It is regularly said football is a game of fine margins. It proved to be the case again in this match as Raya inexplicably let Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot slip through his fingers. The ball bounced agonisingly towards goal but Raya reacted quickly and leapt back to claw the ball off the goal line.
Fifty-five seconds later and Arsenal were level. Thomas Partey’s low shot was well saved by Flekken but Jesus (29) pounced to head home the rebound from close range for his sixth goal in four games in all competitions as the visitors restored parity heading into the break.
Arteta had work to do at the interval as his side had struggled for decent chunks in the first half, and whatever the Spaniard said to his side, it had the desired effect, with the Gunners scoring twice in three minutes.
‘Set-piece again’ sounded out from the away end after Mikel Merino (50) swept home from close range after Flekken had failed to deal with Ethan Nwaneri’s corner.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino celebrates scoring the Gunners’ second goal vs Brentford
The Gunners were celebrating three minutes and eight seconds later as Nwaneri, who was making his first league start, saw his cross cleared only as far as Gabriel Martinelli, who steered a shot into the far corner to give his side breathing space.
Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring Arsenal’s third goal against Brentford
There was to be no dramatic comeback from Brentford, who suffered just their second home defeat of the season in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches with a third straight league win. They now have the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead to three points when they face a trip to Brighton, live on Sky Sports on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm), ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United on Super Sunday, also live on Sky Sports (kick-off 4.30pm).
The game’s key moment?
At one end, Raya clawed a shot from his goal line after nearly dropping a clanger…
… 55 seconds later Arsenal were level through Jesus.
Arteta hails ‘big win’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:
“It’s a big win. They’re a really good side, very well coached and they’ve been exceptional at home.
“Especially when you go a goal down early in the game it becomes a mountain to climb, but the team remained patient. We had to manage the situation emotionally.
“We have to navigate through some difficult moments.
“We started really fast and aggressive and again adapting. We had some injuries and sickness and we had to play some different players.”
Will Arsenal take chance to put pressure on Liverpool?
Sky Sports’ Oliver Yew at the Gtech Community Stadium:
The way Brentford have been playing at home this season, this was never going to be easy for Arsenal.
However, after facing plenty of adversity in the opening 45 minutes, they came through a difficult test for a significant win in the title race.
Jesus celebrates scoring the opener for Arsenal
It now allows the Gunners to try and put some pressure on Liverpool, who have been threatening to run away with the league, ahead of their clash with Man Utd on Super Sunday.
Before that, the Gunners travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton on Saturday Night Football and a win would see them cut the gap to the Reds to three points with Slot’s side having two games in hand.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said his side were only focused on doing their job. “We can only win our next match and see what happens,” he said. “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 recent weeks but if Arsenal can sneak up in the rear-view mirror of the Anfield side, pressure can do funny things.
It’s a long season. I understand why Arne Slot is saying ‘we haven’t won anything yet’. Liverpool haven’t had a dip yet and that will most likely come, and Arsenal are picking up points when they’re not fully firing. It will go right to the end.
Nwaneri stakes claim to fill Saka’s boots
Ethan Nwaneri made his first Premier League start against Brentford
Back in September 2022, Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history, aged 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 Saka on the right side, taking corners and indeed playing a major hand in the third goal as Arsenal roared back.
In the first half, he was the only player to complete all of his passes (17/17), while he also created two chances, a figure only bettered by Martinelli (3). In all, Nwaneri gave the ball away just twice.
It was a performance 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 position it wasn’t because of the bug. It was because he was the best player to play in the position.”
Aged 17 years and 286 days, Nwaneri was the third-youngest player to start a Premier League game 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).
Baby steps for the teenager but he has added another option for Arteta in Saka’s absence.
Story of the match in stats…
Opta stats: Capital gains for Gunners
- Arsenal have picked up more points in Premier League London derbies this season (14) than any other side, while no side has fewer points in such matches this term than Brentford (4, level with Crystal Palace).
- Brentford are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season. Indeed, the Bees have gone 11 successive home league matches without a shutout for the first time since October 2007 (13).
- Arsenal have scored nine Premier League goals from corner situations this season, the most of any side. Indeed, five of the Gunners’ last 12 league goals have come via corners.
‘You need to be perfect to beat Arsenal’
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:
“You need to play a perfect game against Arsenal, one of the two best teams in the league, probably in the world. I thought actually we were close to perfect in the first half, I loved the way we played.
“I’m pleased with the performance, especially the first half, and also I thought the second half was not too bad – we just conceded two goals.
“I think the overall performance was good, maybe very good, but the big moments we didn’t take them well enough – especially the three defensive moments.”
