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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
