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 had been rocked by Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half purpose on the Gtech Community Stadium. But Arsenal refused to be blown away on a moist and windy night in west London as Jesus equalised earlier than the break. It was the Brazilian’s sixth purpose 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 received in a tough stadium towards a very good opponent. The report they’ve right here is unimaginable and once you go 1-0 down it makes it even tougher,” Arteta mentioned.
“Especially once you go a purpose down early within the sport it turns into a mountain to climb, however we remained affected person.
“We needed to handle the scenario emotionally. We had been very medical within the field. Jesus’s kind is essential.”
Excluding their 5-1 rout of Crystal Palace, the Gunners had spluttered by way of their final 4 league video games with lacklustre attracts towards Fulham and Everton adopted by a slender win over lowly Ipswich.
But Arsenal’s first Premier League sport of 2025 supplied compelling proof that they’re able to compete within the title race with Liverpool, who’ve a sport in hand on the north Londoners.
Runners-up to Manchester City for the final two seasons, Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 video games in all competitions, a revitalising run that now contains 4 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 result of a hamstring harm, 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 certainly one of 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 cross picked out Mbeumo on the proper flank.
Mbeumo reduce 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 practically gifted Brentford a second purpose when he let Mbeumo’s shot slip by way of his grasp earlier than desperately clawing it away simply centimetres earlier than it crossed the road.
Arsenal responded emphatically after that chaotic interval and drew stage within the twenty ninth minute.
Thomas Partey’s thunderous blast from the sting of the realm was parried by Brentford ‘keeper Mark Flekken and Jesus alertly pounced on the rebound with a diving header that looped into the web 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 residence from shut vary.
Merino’s second purpose for Arsenal since his close-season transfer from Real Sociedad shattered Brentford’s resistence 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 realm, the Brazilian curled a advantageous end previous Flekken.
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