Arsenal 1 – 1 Brentford
Despite taking the lead, Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t secure a win against Brentford.
Mikel Arteta hoped to carry the momentum from the Real Madrid clash into the Premier League, but Arsenal fell short. A lackluster performance at home saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford.
Saturday’s dull encounter ended level, with Thomas Partey putting Arsenal ahead in the second half before Brentford equalized through a brilliant goal from Yoane Wissa.
It was Arsenal’s second consecutive draw in the Premier League, following another 1-1 result last week against Everton.
With one eye on the Champions League quarter-final second leg, Arteta opted to rest some key players. The absence of regular starters was clearly felt, as Arsenal lacked their usual rhythm. Even after Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Myles Lewis-Skelly came off the bench, the attack failed to click.
Arsenal have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after a commanding 3-0 win over Real Madrid last week, but next up is the real test at Santiago Bernabéu. The league match didn’t provide the ideal tune-up for Declan Rice, David Raya, and others.
Brentford had the first real chance of the game, with Kristoffer Ajer forcing a save from Raya in the 22nd minute.
Just four minutes later, Kieran Tierney found the net with a great header, but it was ruled out for offside against the Scottish defender.
Gabriel Martinelli’s goal-bound effort in the 35th minute was denied by Ajer’s well-timed slide. Six minutes later, Brentford keeper Mark Flekken stopped a powerful attempt from Rice. Leandro Trossard also tested the keeper just before halftime with a driven shot from outside the box.
Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances. Ødegaard, Saka, and Lewis-Skelly were being readied on the sideline when Thomas Partey delivered a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock.
Starting from deep near his own box, Rice burst forward with pace and found the unmarked Partey inside Brentford’s penalty area. The Ghanaian midfielder smashed it in with a powerful finish.
Ødegaard, Saka, and Lewis-Skelly entered the match soon after, but Arsenal’s attacking spark still didn’t ignite. Brentford leveled in the 74th minute.
Nathan Collins flicked the ball into Wissa’s path, and with an impressive 360-degree turn, he buried it past Raya.
Just three minutes later, Saka was gifted a golden opportunity after a huge mistake from the Brentford goalkeeper left the net wide open. But under pressure from a defender, he couldn’t get his shot off.
In the 86th minute, Jorginho had to leave the pitch after clashing heads with an opponent while going for a header. With all five substitutions already used, Arsenal were forced to finish the match with 10 men.
Arsenal now sit second in the table with 63 points from 32 matches (17 wins, 12 draws). Liverpool, with a game in hand and 73 points, lead the pack. Dropped points from the closest title contenders only help Arne Slot’s men inch closer to the Premier League trophy.
