Martin Keown Lauds Declan Rice as Arsenal's 'Stand-Out' Performer in Brentford Stalemate
Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions suffered a minor setback on Thursday night as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Brentford side at the Gtech Community Stadium. The result means Mikel Arteta's men now lead Manchester City by just four points at the summit, having missed the chance to re-establish a six-point cushion.
Rice Earns High Praise Amidst Gunners' Struggles
Former Arsenal defender and pundit Martin Keown was quick to highlight the performance of Declan Rice, describing the England international as 'immense' and the 'stand-out player' for the Gunners. Keown emphasised the extraordinary ground Rice covered during the match, showcasing his leadership and energy in a taxing encounter.
'I thought the stand-out player for Arsenal, Declan Rice, was immense with the amount of distance he was covering,' Keown told TNT Sports. 'He was the stand-out player.'
Concerns Over Key Arsenal Stars' Form
However, Keown also pointed to a significant issue for Arsenal, noting that several other high-profile players 'didn't quite look themselves'. He specifically referenced Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Riccardo Calafiori as appearing out of sorts during the latter stages of the game.
Odegaard was introduced at half-time to spark a response after a disappointing first half from the visitors. The Norwegian captain initially made a positive impact, with Keown praising his pressing and the disruption he caused to Brentford's midfield play.
'I think what Odegaard brings is often missed - he presses really high up the pitch and Brentford then couldn't play through the midfield in the way they wanted to,' Keown explained.
Yet, after going down with an injury, Odegaard's influence waned. 'For me, Odegaard gets injured, he didn't look quite the same player after that,' Keown observed. 'I think the Arsenal players that came off the bench didn't quite look themselves - Saka, Calafiori.'
Brentford Boss Acknowledges Odegaard's Impact
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews also recognised the immediate effect Odegaard had upon his introduction, replacing the quiet Eberechi Eze. Andrews highlighted the Arsenal captain's intelligent pressing and timing when closing down opponents.
'Odegaard is a very good presser, when he releases from No 10 out to centre-backs he times it really well and the angle he goes is very effective,' Andrews told TNT Sports. 'He's very good at it. I always expected a reaction when Odegaard came on.'
Match Summary and Title Race Implications
The match itself saw Noni Madueke give Arsenal an early lead, only for Keane Lewis-Potter to equalise for Brentford with a powerful header from a long throw-in. The home side even had opportunities to snatch a late winner in an enthralling finale, leaving Arsenal grateful for a point.
This draw follows a dramatic weekend where Manchester City staged a stunning late fightback against Liverpool, preventing themselves from falling nine points behind Arsenal. City then reinforced their title credentials with a convincing 3-0 victory over Fulham on Wednesday.
While Arsenal remain in the driving seat for the Premier League crown, this result at Brentford underscores the fine margins and relentless pressure inherent in the title race. The performances of key players like Rice will be crucial, but concerns over the fitness and form of stars like Odegaard, Saka, and Calafiori could prove pivotal in the coming weeks.
