Arsenal strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race with a commanding 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. The win extends the Gunners' lead at the summit to a formidable five points, though the triumph was marred by a fresh injury concern in defence.
Merino and Saka Seal Vital Three Points
The breakthrough came from midfielder Mikel Merino, who powered home a precise header to give the hosts a deserved lead. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Arsenal were forced to wait until deep into stoppage time to guarantee the points. Bukayo Saka was the man to provide the finish, calmly slotting home to seal a 2-0 win and send the home supporters into raptures.
Injury Cloud Mars Defensive Solidity
The major downside for Mikel Arteta's side was the forced substitution of centre-back Cristhian Mosquera due to injury. His departure adds to Arsenal's existing defensive worries and will be a significant point of scrutiny ahead of a busy festive fixture schedule. Despite this, the back line held firm to record yet another clean sheet, a testament to their overall resilience.
Raya's Heroics Preserve Advantage
Brentford posed a persistent threat, particularly from set-pieces, and came agonisingly close to an equaliser. German forward Kevin Schade saw a powerful header brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, a pivotal moment that maintained the home side's slender advantage. This save proved crucial in the context of the match and the eventual result.
The victory marks Arsenal's 18th consecutive match unbeaten across all competitions. Furthermore, it is their eighth straight home win with a clean sheet, underlining their formidable form at the Emirates. While the performance flashed their undeniable title credentials, the looming shadow of Mosquera's injury will give Arteta food for thought as his squad's depth is tested.
