Brentford v Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after visitors fight back for impressive win
Brentford 1-3 Arsenal: The visitors came from behind after Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal closed to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as they came from behind to beat Brentford 3-1.
Having been rocked by Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal, Mikel Arteta’s side very nearly went two behind when David Raya let Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot squirm through his fingertips. But the Spanish goalkeeper scrambled superbly to hook the ball off his own line, and barely 60 seconds later, Gabriel Jesus latched on to a rebound to nod home an equaliser.
Arsenal then took control with two goals in three minutes early in the second half, first Mikel Merino capitalising on some chaos from a corner and then Gabriel Martinelli producing a fine finish to convert youngster Ethan Nwaneri’s deflected cross. Three points lift the London club up above Nottingham Forest into second at the halfway stage of their season and start 2025 with an impressive win.
Re-live all of the action in our live blog below:
Brentford 1-3 Arsenal, 55 minutes
It feels a long way back for Brentford now. Arsenal just look to have figured out how to deconstruct their backline, and you fear the hosts will only leave themselves more exposed as they case a fightback.
That was a lovely finish from Martinelli, crisp and clean. In the absence of Bukayo Saka, he and Gabriel Jesus have stepped up.
GOAL! Brentford 1-3 ARSENAL (Gabriel Martinelli, 54 minutes)
Another!
A cross from Ethan Nwaneri is not even half cleared by Nathan Collins, who feels he may have been eased out of the way by Gabriel Jesus. The referee is content, and so is Gabriel Martinelli, lashing past Mark Flekken to add to Arsenal’s advantage.
VAR has a brief look, but decides all is fine and dandy. What a start to the half for the visitors!
Brentford 1-2 Arsenal, 52 minutes
A bit of confidence and composure about Arsenal now, starting to pop the ball about with real intent.
GOAL! Brentford 1-2 ARSENAL (Mikel Merino, 50 minutes)
They just can’t stop scoring from corners!
I don’t think this will be going on Nicolas Jover’s showreel but they count all the same! Mark Flekken flaps like a hen in heat in a wild attempt to pat the ball away, failing almost entirely. Gabriel Jesus looks likely to be the beneficiary again as the ball bounces to his feet, but fires against the chest of a Brentford player, allowing Mikel Merino to pick up the pieces and pierce both blockers and net. Arsenal lead.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 48 minutes
The inswinger makes it all the way into the six-yard box with no sign of Mark Flekken coming. Behind it deflects for another set piece.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 47 minutes
William Saliba uses his strength to prevent Bryan Mbeumo holding up the ball, the Frenchman cleverly manipulating the Brentford striker’s body out of the way to take the ball.
Arsenal soon win a corner, which will allow Saliba to lumber up.
Second half...
Brentford’s players emerge a full minute or so before their Arsenal counterparts, Mikel Arteta’s half-time address perhaps running long.
No alterations that I can see. Back underway.
HT: Brentford 1-1 Arsenal
A bright and breezy half to start 2025 in the Premier League. Brentford struck in transition to go 1-0 up and very nearly doubled that advantage when David Raya let a shot squirm through his hands. Some sharp scrambling from the Spaniard ensured the second did not arrive, and inside a minute, Arsenal were level with Gabriel Jesus reacting well to nod in an equaliser.
More fun to come, one would suggest.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 45 + 3 minutes
Time ticks away on the first half as an Ethan Nwaneri dummy evades Gabriel Jesus. Brentford threaten to break intricately with speed but Bryan Mbeumo can’t quite bring the ball under his control.
Forward come Arsenal again. Mikel Merino leaps for a cross and doesn’t make contact.
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