Arsenal closed the hole on Premier League leaders Liverpool to 6 factors as Gabriel Jesus prolonged his hot-streak in a 3-1 win at Brentford on Wednesday. Mikel Arteta’s aspect have been rocked by Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half objective on the Gtech Community Stadium. But Arsenal refused to be blown away on a moist and windy night in west London as Jesus equalized earlier than the break. It was the Brazilian’s sixth objective in his final 4 video games after he scored simply as soon as in his first 20 matches this season.
Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli netted in fast succession quickly after half-time to make sure Arsenal moved into second place above Nottingham Forest.
“We won in a difficult stadium against a good opponent. The record they have here is incredible and when you go 1-0 down it makes it even harder,” Arteta mentioned.
“Especially when you go down a goal early in the game it becomes a mountain to climb, but we remained patient.
“We needed to handle the state of affairs emotionally. We have been very scientific within the field. Jesus’ type is essential.”
Excluding their 5–1 rout of Crystal Palace, the Gunners had spluttered through their last four league games with lackluster draws against Fulham and Everton followed by a narrow win over lowly Ipswich.
But Arsenal’s first Premier League game of 2025 provided compelling evidence that they are ready to compete in the title race with Liverpool, who have a game in hand on the north Londoners.
Runners-up to Manchester City for the last two seasons, Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, a revitalizing run that now includes four successive wins.
“We can solely win our subsequent match and see what occurs. It’s not in our palms,” Arteta mentioned of chasing Liverpool.
With Bukayo Saka sidelined for a number of months as a consequence of a hamstring damage, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri made his first league begin for Arsenal.
Kai Havertz was absent after scoring Arsenal’s winner towards Ipswich however Jesus ensured the German was not missed.
Arsenal didn’t lose a single one among their 10 league London derbies in 2024 they usually maintained their spectacular report in capital clashes after surviving an early blow.
Sucker punch
Arsenal keeper David Raya was making his first return to Brentford since leaving in 2023.
The Spaniard was taunted by his former membership’s followers, who took nice enjoyment of his misjudgement as Brentford went into the lead from their first severe assault within the thirteenth minute.
Martin Odegaard surrendered possession cheaply and Mikkel Damsgaard’s go picked out Mbeumo on the best flank.
Mbeumo lower inside Riccardo Calafiori however the Cameroon ahead’s low drive from 20 yards ought to have been handled by Raya, whose sluggish response allowed the ball to beat him on the close to publish.
Raya almost gifted Brentford a second objective when he let Mbeumo’s shot slip by means of his grasp earlier than desperately clawing it away simply centimeters earlier than it crossed the road.
Arsenal responded empathetically after that chaotic interval and drew degree within the twenty ninth minute.
Thomas Partey’s thunderous blast from the sting of the world was parried by Brentford ‘keeper Mark Flekken and Jesus alertly pounced on the rebound with a diving header that looped into the online from six yards.
Jesus was left with a bloodied mouth after a conflict with Damsgaard that introduced no punishment from the officers.
Arsenal delivered a sucker punch of their very own 5 minutes after half-time as their set-piece prowess paid off once more.
When Flekken made a hash of coping with Nwaneri’s nook, Jesus’ snap-shot deflected to Merino and the Spain midfielder poked dwelling from shut vary.
Merino’s second objective for Arsenal since his close-season transfer from Real Sociedad shattered Brentford’s resistance and Martinelli bagged the guests’ third three minutes later.
Nwaneri uncovered Brentford’s defensive deficiencies with a intelligent cutback and when his shot was deflected to Martinelli inside the world, the Brazilian curled a high quality end previous Flekken.
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