Arsenal mounted an impressive comeback to defeat Brentford 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday night, climbing to second place in the Premier League table and moving within six points of leaders Liverpool. After going behind to an early Bryan Mbeumo strike, the Gunners hit back through goals from Gabriel Jesus, his sixth in four games, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli to secure a vital three points.
While it wasn’t a flawless performance from Mikel Arteta’s side, who conceded first for the fourth consecutive Premier League match, the character and resilience they displayed was testament to a squad growing in confidence and belief. The introduction of 17-year-old academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri for his first Premier League start underlined the exciting young talent at Arteta’s disposal as Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions.
Brentford Take Early Lead
Thomas Frank’s Brentford, boasting the division’s best home record prior to kickoff, served early notice of their attacking threat when Mbeumo latched onto a flick-on, forcing David Raya into a smart save. But the Arsenal goalkeeper, who spent five seasons with the Bees, was powerless to prevent Mbeumo from opening the scoring minutes later.
Martin Ødegaard’s misplaced pass was picked off by Mikkel Damsgaard, who threaded a brilliant through ball for the onrushing Mbeumo. The Frenchman was allowed to advance into the penalty area unchallenged by Riccardo Calafiori before deceiving Raya with a clever near post finish to hand the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead.
Jesus Restores Parity
Arsenal were struggling to impose themselves as an attacking force but a scrappy Gabriel Jesus equalizer drew them level on the stroke of halftime. After Brentford failed to adequately clear their lines from a corner, Thomas Partey’s driven shot was parried by Mark Flekken into the path of Jesus, who reacted quickest to bundle home from close range for his sixth goal in his last four appearances.
That goal was so important for us … it changed the dynamic.
– Mikel Arteta on Jesus’ equalizer
Merino Header Completes Turnaround
Arsenal carried their momentum into the second half and hit the front within eight minutes of the restart. Summer signing Mikel Merino, who has quickly established himself as a key figure in Arteta’s midfield, was the unlikely scorer, rising highest to head in from Nwaneri’s corner after Flekken failed to claim the initial delivery.
It was Arsenal’s 10th set-piece goal of the Premier League campaign, a statistic that underlines one of the key improvements Arteta and his coaching staff, including set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover, have overseen. The Spaniard’s celebrations on the touchline reflected the importance of the goal in shifting the balance of the contest decisively in Arsenal’s favor.
Martinelli Makes Sure of the Points
Three minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli effectively ended the game as a contest. The Brazilian forward was the beneficiary of more uncertain Brentford defending, seizing on Nathan Collins’ headed clearance from Nwaneri’s cross to drive an emphatic finish past Flekken for his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Frank made a quadruple substitution in an attempt to claw Brentford back into the match but Arsenal managed the closing stages professionally to see out a win that lifts them to within six points of Liverpool with a game in hand on the league leaders. The likes of Bukayo Saka, declan rice and Kai Havertz, who missed out here, will surely have significant roles to play during the run-in.
Nwaneri Takes His Chance to Shine
But this was an evening that belonged to Ethan Nwaneri. The teenager, who broke the record as the Premier League’s youngest-ever player when he debuted aged 15 years and 181 days in September 2022, became the first player born in 2007 to start a match in the competition here.
And he rose to the occasion superbly, providing the assists for Arsenal’s second and third goals with precise deliveries from set pieces. Nwaneri’s poise and technical ability belie his tender years and the rapturous reception he received from the travelling supporters when substituted late on demonstrated his already lofty standing among the fan base.
Ethan has earned his opportunity and he took it. We’re really happy with him.
– Mikel Arteta on Nwaneri’s performance
Arsenal Firmly in Title Picture
While there is still over a third of the season to play, Arsenal increasingly look like the team most likely to challenge Liverpool’s grip on the Premier League trophy. Mikel Arteta has constructed an exciting, dynamic young squad sprinkled with a blend of youth and experience that looks equipped to sustain a push for honours.
In Gabriel Jesus, they have a proven goalscorer in red-hot form. The Brazilian’s six goals in his last four outings have propelled Arsenal firmly into the title picture and his industry and link play are bringing the best out of those around him, such as Martinelli, Saka and Martin Ødegaard.
The emergence of academy graduates like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly is testament to the strength of the club’s youth development program and ensures competition for places will be fierce during the business end of the campaign. And in Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have one of the brightest managerial prospects in Europe, a coach whose methodology is bearing fruit in spectacular fashion.
Tougher tests than Brentford away undoubtedly lie in store. But this was another significant hurdle cleared with a minimum of fuss. With the returns of Saka and Emile Smith Rowe from injury imminent and the January transfer window offering opportunities for reinforcement, Arsenal look primed for an exciting assault on Liverpool’s crown. On this evidence, only a brave soul would bet against them.
