12 April 2025
Arsenal 1 Brentford 1
Arsenal came into this game after an emphatic win over Real Madrid in their previous outing. They welcomed Brentford to The Emirates for a London derby. Mikel Arteta rested many of their key players with that second leg against the Spaniards on his mind. If you want to win major silverware, your squad needs the depth to still win games without your strongest eleven.
The game was a drab affair to start, with very few chances. The first sight of goal came when Mbuemo slotted a ball in behind the defence for Ajer to run onto. He got a first-time shot away but it was blocked at his near post by Raya. Despite not scoring, this should have given the visitors confidence that they could create openings if they got at this Arsenal defence.
The Gunners came forward on their first attack with nearly half an hour of the game gone. Nwaneri twisted and turned out wide, trying to make an opportunity to cross. He sent a curling ball into the middle and it was headed home by Tierney. The celebrations were short-lived as it was reviewed by the semi-automated offside now in use and it showed he was off by some margin.
Norgaard then scythed down Martinelli out wide and was shown the first card of the game. Arteta was hopping around in anger on the touchline, berating the Brentford bench. Obviously they had not got the memo that when you play Arsenal it is a non-contact sport. It was a poor challenge from The Bees’ defender but was punished adequately by the official.
Saliba then clipped a superb ball over the Brentford defence. Martinelli controlled it superbly and looked to get a shot off in the middle of the goal. Ajer made a fantastic sliding challenge to block it and deny the Brazilian a goal. Flekken was no doubt relieved to see his teammate protecting his goal in the way that he did in front of him.
Trossard was the next player to try and break the deadlock but his shot from the edge of the box was superbly saved by the Brentford keeper in the bottom corner of the goal. His performances this season have resulted in some of Europe’s top sides scouting him. Thomas Frank is used to having to bat away interest in his players, it has become part of his job description now.
After the interval, it was the visitors on the front foot. Mbuemo forced a corner but it was to prove to be their downfall. As The Gunners cleared the resulting cross, Rice burst through the middle with options either side of him. He laid it off into the path of Partey, who smashed his shot past Flekken as The Emirates erupted, with the ball nestled in the back of the net.
Frank’s side did not let their heads drop. They continued to get forward whenever they could. Mbuemo was finding plenty of space out wide to stretch The Gunners’ back line. The Bees dinked a cross into the middle and Collins headed it back across goal at the far post. Arsenal were at sixes and sevens and never really got into shape to keep the visitors out.
As it dropped into the middle, it fell to Wissa with his back to goal. He swivelled in an instant and hooked it into the back of the net as the away end erupted. It was no more than Brentford had deserved, they had been worthy opponents for this Arsenal side all game. The Bees’ all-time top scorer in the Premier League was at it again.
The Gunners had a massive opportunity to score when Raya knocked the ball downfield. For some bizarre reason, Flekken had come out of his box and tried to control it. It was stolen off him by Saka, who promptly skipped around the keeper. The only baffling thing was why the winger waited so long without pulling the trigger, allowing Brentford to get players back and put it behind for a corner.
Arsenal’s talisman had one more chance to score as he cut inside from out wide onto his left foot. He tried to bend one into the far corner but it narrowly missed the target. Arteta’s side had to settle for a draw and meant that they have taken only ten points from their last seven games. Forget title challenges, it is a wonder how they are still in second place in the Premier League table.
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