AS the Premier League season reached its halfway point, there is a flicker of hope that we might have a contest for the title.
Mikel Arteta’s obdurate, steely, resourceful Arsenal claimed a comeback victory at one of the toughest venues this competition has to offer – as goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli completed a perfect festive season for the Gunners.
AlamyArsenal mob Gabriel Martinelli after he made it 3-1 early in the second half[/caption]
ReutersGabriel Jesus sparked victory with this spectacular equaliser[/caption]
Jesus is suddenly in lethal form, there was yet another goal from a corner and the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri enjoyed a promising first league start as the Arsenal made light of the absence of four first-choice starters.
Over 12 days of Christmas football, they have claimed a maximum nine points – the only problem being that runaway leaders Liverpool have done the same.
Arsenal trail Arne Slot’s Red men by six points, having played a game more than the leaders.
Arteta’s perennial runners-up are hoping for a miraculous collapse from the Anfield club but at least they are showing themselves capable of building a relentless run of their own to keep in contention, just as they did in the opening months of 2024.
Brentford, who have enjoyed so many thrilling wins here at their house of fun in the shadows of the Chiswick flyover, seized an early lead through Bryan Mbeumo’s tenth goal of the season.
But Arsenal – rarely pretty, but usually pretty effective – gritted their teeth and dragged it back on a cold, soggy Hounslow day.
With Bukayo Saka a long-term absentee and Kai Havertz struck down by illness, Arteta handed Nwaneri a full league debut at the ground where he’d made his first appearance off the bench as a 15-year-old schoolboy two seasons ago.
The Gunners boss made four changes in all – Declan Rice, not fully fit, dropped to the bench in favour of Merino, with Riccardo Calafiori replacing young full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.
GettyEthan Nwaneri especially impressed before the break[/caption]
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Brentford had been wobbly of late – winless in four games, and without a goal in two, having had their outstanding home record dented by a 2-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on their last outing at the Gtech Stadium.
Thomas Frank welcomed back Sepp van den Berg at centre-half, while Yehor Yormoliuk slotted into midfield.
And the Bees started with a bang, scoring with their first serious effort on goal.
Mikkel Damsgaard’s well-weighted through-ball released Mbeumo, who cut inside from the right and drilled in a shot which beat David Raya at his near post.
Raya, facing his former club, almost blundered more spectacularly just before the half-hour when he spilled a straightforward Keane Lewis-Potter shot and had to recover with an acrobatic effort to claw it back off from the line, preventing a second Brentford goal by inches.
Arsenal were bossing possession but Brentford started the sharper, more purposeful side, winning a succession of 50-50s.
Then, just as Arsenal were threatening to subside, they equalised.
Thomas Partey lashed a shot from the edge of the area, Mark Flekken pushed it out but Jesus reacted quickest and met the rebound with a diving header.
It was the Brazilian’s sixth goal in four games – the rest of them all against Crystal Palace – and it was a lifeline the Gunners barely merited.
Arteta’s men were buoyed by their goal and pinned Brentford back for the rest of the half.
GettyMartinelli fired the Gunners’ clincher on just 53 minutes[/caption]
GettyMikel Merino put the visitors in front shortly after the break[/caption]
ReutersBryan Mbeumo slotted Brentford ahead in the 13th minute[/caption]
Damsgaard floored Jesus with what looked like an accidental elbow and VAR found nothing to get excited about.
At the start of the second half, Arsenal took a complete stranglehold on proceedings – scoring twice in the space of two minutes, with Nwaneri playing his part in both.
The kid had threatened without much end product in the first period but five minutes after the restart, he whipped in a corner, Flekken completely botched his punch, Jesus had a shot blocked and Spanish midfielder Merino pounced to poke home.
It was Arsenal’s 25th Premier League goal from a corner since the start of last season – nine more than any other club.
“Set-piece again, ole, ole,” sang the away supporters, although their dead-ball guru Nico Jover – once of Brentford – couldn’t claim much credit for this one.
Soon it was 3-1. Nwaneri curled in a wicked centre which caused chaos, Nathan Collins only able to head out as far as Martinelli who arrowed a shot into the far corner with deadly accuracy.
Jesus soon went close to a fourth and Arsenal never looked remotely like letting the hosts back in.
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