Mikel Arteta's Arsenal took a significant step towards ending their two-decade Premier League title drought with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. The win, secured by goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, restored the Gunners' five-point cushion at the summit, but was marred by fresh injury concerns for key players.
Merino Emerges as Unlikely Hero in Arteta's Masterplan
The opening goal, arriving in the 11th minute, was a testament to the strategic acumen of Mikel Arteta. Mikel Merino, the £28.43 million summer signing from Real Sociedad, powered home a clever header from Ben White's cross after a slick flick from Noni Madueke. This marked his fifth goal of the campaign in all competitions.
Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal moved for the then 28-year-old midfielder, but his transformation has been remarkable. No Arsenal player has scored more Premier League goals in 2025 than Merino, who has nine to his name. His tally of 29 goal contributions for club and country this calendar year underscores his immense value, positioning him as one of Arteta's most astute acquisitions.
Gritty Win Overshadowed by Defensive Injury Crisis
The triumph was far from straightforward and came at a potential cost. Arsenal's defensive resources were stretched thin even before kick-off, with first-choice centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes already sidelined. The situation worsened when Cristhian Mosquera, the Spain U21 international, landed awkwardly and had to be replaced by Jurrien Timber in the first half.
To compound matters, Declan Rice, instrumental in midfield, was forced off with a calf issue eight minutes from time. While there is initial confidence his problem is merely fatigue, his absence would be a major blow. Piero Hincapie also required treatment after a clash of heads, leaving Arteta potentially without three key defenders for the weekend trip to Aston Villa.
Brentford, who rested Igor Thiago, Jordan Henderson, and Mikkel Damsgaard, posed a persistent threat. David Raya produced a stunning reflex save to tip Kevin Schade's header onto the bar, ensuring Arsenal kept their first clean sheet since Gabriel's injury on November 4.
Arteta's Squad Depth Sees Gunners Over the Line
Frustrated by Brentford's resilient five-man defence and packed midfield, Arteta turned to his bench, introducing England duo Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze for the final half-hour. The pressure eventually told in stoppage time when Saka's shot squirmed over the line after being saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, sealing the three points.
This gritty performance demonstrated a crucial trait in title-winning sides: the ability to grind out results when not at their fluid best. With Merino providing a consistent goal threat from an advanced role and the squad showing resilience amidst an injury crisis, Arsenal's belief that their 22-year wait for the title could end this season grows stronger by the week. The coming days, however, will be dominated by fitness tests ahead of a critical fixture at Villa Park.
