Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confessed he was left praying his team would not suffer a late defeat after a dramatic 1-1 draw away at Brentford, which saw the Gunners' advantage at the top of the Premier League table reduced. The result means Arsenal's cushion over defending champions Manchester City has been trimmed to just four points, intensifying the title race as the season enters its crucial final months.
Frantic Finish at the Gtech Community Stadium
The match appeared to be swinging in Arsenal's favour when Noni Madueke broke the deadlock with a precise header in the 61st minute, putting the visitors on course for a vital victory. However, Brentford responded with characteristic resilience just ten minutes later, as Keane Lewis-Potter capitalised on a long throw from Michael Kayode to level the score.
The closing stages descended into chaos, with both sides missing clear opportunities to snatch all three points. Cristhian Mosquera produced a superb sliding tackle to deny Igor Thiago in stoppage time, before the Brentford striker blazed over when clean through on goalkeeper David Raya. At the other end, Gabriel Martinelli was thwarted by Caoimhin Kelleher in a breathless finale.
Arteta's Analysis of Brentford's Threat
Reflecting on the match, Arteta highlighted the unique challenges posed by Brentford's direct style, particularly from set-pieces and long throws. He explained, "We scored the goal and the game was under total control. But against them, that's not enough because they just need somebody making a foul that is unnecessary, a ball in the channel, they push you, the clearance is not good, a throw-in, and then you have to pray because they are exceptional at what they do."
The Arsenal boss elaborated on the defensive difficulties, stating, "The chaos that is in, and around that ball is very, very difficult to defend. We said to the players: 'If you want to win here, you're going to have to defend the box with your life'. We didn't do that on one of the actions, but they deserve credit, too."
Title Momentum Shifts as City Loom Large
The draw comes at a sensitive time in the title race. Just four days earlier, Manchester City were six minutes away from falling nine points behind their rivals at Liverpool, but Pep Guardiola's side have now closed the gap significantly. Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up in each of the past three seasons, still face a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium in April.
When questioned whether the momentum is now shifting towards City, Arteta remained philosophical. He responded, "I understand (the question) but that's an if, if, if, and if we would have lost to Newcastle, we were eight points behind Liverpool in October. There are a lot of ifs for 10 months in this competition, and you can only focus on what you have to do and try to do that in the best possible way."
Pressed on whether his team felt added pressure after City's comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham the previous day, Arteta dismissed the notion. He added, "I don't think so. We played after them a few times this season, and we have won. Today was not about that."
Controversial Moment Involving Gabriel
Arsenal might have considered themselves fortunate to finish the match with eleven men, as defender Gabriel avoided a second yellow card for a late tackle on Dango Ouattara in the 82nd minute. Brentford manager Keith Andrews expressed his frustration, saying, "I thought it was a second yellow. And it was in the 82nd minute, so it would have made a bit of difference, that's for sure."
Andrews praised his team's performance, highlighting their grit and determination. He stated, "It was a performance that was filled with grit, personality, character, ability, and bravery. We were a constant threat, and we played with a real determination to get the three points. And it is fair to say that in the latter stages we were the team that looked the more likely."
As the Premier League season approaches its climax, this hard-fought draw underscores the fine margins that could ultimately decide the destination of the title. Arsenal's ability to navigate such challenging fixtures, while managing the relentless pressure from Manchester City, will be tested in the weeks ahead.
