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 0-0 Arsenal, 4 minutes
A first glimpse for the hosts, a long thump from goalkeeper Mark Flekken and flick on from Yoanne Wissa freeing Keane Lewis-Potter up the left. His low cross is cut out sharply by David Raya with Bryan Mbeumo waiting beyond to slide home.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 3 minutes
An early problem for Gabriel Jesus, who took a dig in the midriff from Christian Norgaard as the Dane made a perfectly fair tackle. He’s fine to carry on with a grimace.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 1 minute
It loooks like a back four for now from Brentford, though Vitaly Janelt is dropping in at times from midfield. Arsenal in a familiar formation with Ethan Nwaneri in the Bukayo Saka role on the right.
Brentford vs Arsenal
Right, the first Premier League action of the year is upon us. Will we be off and running with a bang?
Mikel Arteta speaks to TNT Sports ahead of kick off
“There have been a lot of highs, a lot of work, a lot of commitment. We’ve broken so many records but we don’t have the big titles we’ve been looking for. There is a gap there we have to fill.
“Kai Havertz wasn’t feeling good, a few players are like this. We have nine games this month, we have to be really careful because of the size of the squad we have.
“We know with the amount of games that we play, injuries happen, but we will try our best to get that sorted. Ethan Nwaneri has to play with that flow, energy and talent that he’s got. He’s got another great opportunity today.”
A huge chance for Ethan Nwaneri
One imagines that Ethan Nwaneri will be leaning on Bukayo Saka all he can as he looks to make the same journey out of Arsenal’s academy and into the first team set-up. The 17-year-old is clearly a player rated very highly by Mikel Arteta but filling Saka’s boots tonight will be a test of his readiness for regular football in some of the bigger games. Nwaneri spoke recently of the influence that both Saka and Martin Odegaard, a former prodigy himself, have had on him this season.
“Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have both been great for me, and not just me but all the young players,” said Nwaneri.
“They help us with everything, and somebody like Bukayo has had that journey already. That’s really important - he knows what we are going through, he can help me, offer me insights on what can help me.
“He’s so good to talk to because he’s so chilled and humble, but also I try to watch him as much as I can and learn that way. Martin as well, he was playing when he was 15 too, so to have that experience in the dressing room is great.
“I just know and I see where I want to be, and where I’m going to be, and I focus on that. Nobody has really seen anything from me yet, just a small snippet of what’s to come, so I’ve got a much bigger picture in my mind that I want to work towards.”
Marcus Rashford, Martin Zubimendi and six more players who could be on the move this January
The transfer window is officially open, bringing with it the usual speculation and nonsense that arrives at this time every year. You would think that Arsenal may be in the market for a wide forward of some kind to cover for Bukayo Saka - might any of our list of players who could be on the move suit Mikel Arteta’s squad? Brentford have managed to find value in January before and could also look to make certain of their Premier League place with a key addition or two.
Rashford, Zubimendi and six other players who could be on the move this January
Notable players, including Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold, could be on the move this month
It was like he was built in a lab – Declan Rice talks up Myles Lewis-Skelly
An undoubted positive for Arsenal of late has been the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has taken an unlikely opportunity to seize the left-back shirt. The versatile, confident youngster has been touted highly by teammate Declan Rice, and though only on the bench tonight, looks a top prospect.
It was like he was built in a lab – Declan Rice talks up Myles Lewis-Skelly
Lewis-Skelly, who hails from Islington in north London, was named player of the match as the Gunners secured a 1-0 victory over Ipswich.
Thomas Frank says Brentford must show set-piece strength
Brentford boss Thomas Frank acknowledges his side must produce their “A game” on New Year’s Day after branding opponents Arsenal the “best set-piece team” in world football.
Mikel Arteta’s men go into Wednesday evening’s London derby at the Gtech Community Stadium having scored 10 of their 35 Premier League goals this term from dead-ball situations following a total of 22 last season.
Frank has backed his players to deal with the threats posed by a Gunners team reaping regular rewards under the guidance of former Bees set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
“Arsenal is the best set-piece team not only in the Premier League but in the world right now,” the Dane told a press conference.
“They are so aggressive and they are well-coached - but we are also good at set-pieces and we will be ready.
“We are good at defending corners. As far as I know, we have only conceded from one corner so far - which was a short corner against Bournemouth (a 3-2 win on November 9) - in the Premier League this season.
“We defend very well so we trust our own processes but, of course, with huge respect to Arsenal and what they can come with. We know we need to play our A game; not just in set-pieces but with every aspect of the game.”
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