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Arsenal’s already faint hopes of lifting the Premier League title were all but ended on Saturday as Brentford snatched a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Still riding high after their emphatic 3-0 triumph over Champions League holders Real Madrid in midweek, the Gunners failed to carry that momentum into their domestic campaign. Despite a second-half goal from Thomas Partey, Mikel Arteta’s men allowed Yoane Wissa to level for the visitors and left the pitch with just a single point.
The result leaves Arsenal 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who will look to extend their advantage further when they host West Ham on Sunday. With just six games remaining, Liverpool now need only nine more points from a possible 21 to clinch the title for a record-equalling 20th time and their first since 2020.
While Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions remain very much alive, their Premier League chase appears to be drawing to a familiar close. It would be the third consecutive season they’ve fallen short in their bid to win the league.
With one eye clearly on Wednesday’s return leg in Madrid, Arteta made five changes to his line-up. Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly were all rested, as rotation took priority in the build-up to the crucial European tie.
Gabriel Martinelli provided early threat, but Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was equal to his effort. Compared to the fever-pitch atmosphere against Madrid, the Emirates was subdued, and the players mirrored that mood in a sluggish first half.
Brentford, sensing an opportunity for a historic win—their first away to Arsenal since 1938—came close through Kristoffer Ajer, only for David Raya to make a vital block. Kieran Tierney thought he’d broken the deadlock just before the half-hour mark, but his header was ruled offside by the semi-automated system, newly introduced in the Premier League that very day.
Flekken was kept busy throughout the half, saving well from Zinchenko, Declan Rice, and Leandro Trossard, the latter forcing a fine diving stop.
Arsenal finally found their breakthrough just after the hour. After Raya collected a Brentford corner, he released Rice, who surged the length of the pitch before slipping the ball into Partey’s path. The Ghanaian lashed a low finish beyond Flekken to give the Gunners the lead.
Arteta responded by bringing on Saka, Ødegaard, and Lewis-Skelly in an attempt to close out the game. But Brentford were undeterred. Michael Kayode swung in a cross which Nathan Collins headed into a crowded area. The Arsenal defence failed to clear and Wissa pounced, swivelling to fire home from close range with just over 15 minutes remaining.
Arsenal had late chances to reclaim the lead—Saka’s weak effort and another curling strike that skimmed just wide—but were ultimately left frustrated. Jorginho’s late injury, which saw the Gunners finish the match with 10 men, only compounded the disappointment.
