Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League is down to four points after Keane Lewis-Potter scored with a brilliant equaliser to deny the Gunners, who had gone ahead from a Noni Madueke header 10 minutes earlier.
In a fast and furious London derby, that seemed to get more frenetic and dramatic as it went on, the sides could not be divided and the big winners were Manchester City, who have started to close the gap ominously on Mikel Arteta’s team.
It was a strange game in many ways, with both goals coming from unlikely sources, and Brentford showing more desire to win in the opening and closing stages. Arsenal only really got going after half-time, and should have seen out victory.
But they left with only one point, and who knows what that will mean in the long run.
They went into the game without William Saliba, who was ill, and Kai Havertz, who had a ‘niggle’ after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Sunderland.
In came Cristhian Mosquera and Eberechi Eze, starting for the first time in two months, but the former Crystal Palace man struggled to impose himself in the number 10 role, and it was no great surprise to see him hooked at half-time, with Martin Odegaard returning.
Indeed Arsenal barely had a sniff of goal in the first 45 minutes, as Brentford defended solidly, had the lion’s share of possession, and looked dangerous on the break. Keith Andrews had spoken in his pre-match press conference about his side’s ability to cause problems with the pace and power of their forwards, particularly the in-form Igor Thiago.
The big striker had a good old-fashioned ding-dong battle with his fellow Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes, and though Arsenal’s stand-in captain won most of their aerial tussles, Thiago did get clear once for the best chance of the first half. David Raya, looking uncharacteristically nervous on his return to his former club, had already had to scramble away a couple of wayward back passes, when in the 22nd minute he inexplicably threw the ball straight to Brentford’s Mathias Jensen. The Danish midfielder went wide, and chipped a teasing cross into the box for Thiago to send a thumping header goalwards, only for the backpedalling Raya to save spectacularly from close range.
The Arsenal keeper had to be alert to Brentford’s fast counter-attacks, running out to boot the ball clear from the onrushing Dango Ouattara as he chased a Thiago through ball.
Arsenal attempts to break down a stubborn home defence rarely bore fruit, much as Declan Rice tried to find openings by running from deep midfield. The closest they came to scoring in the opening half was a weak header from a corner by Gabriel which bounced off his shoulder and was headed clear by Sepp Van den Berg.
Having been second best for most of the first half, Arsenal increased the intensity and took control of the game. The addition of Odegaard helped, giving Rice support in midfield and creating chances in attack. Leandro Trossard, who had been quiet in the opening half, had two powerful shots blocked and Odegaard fired high over the bar.
The opening goal, in the 61st minute, came from a surprise source. Madueke is not known for his heading prowess, but when Piero Hincapie swung in a deep cross from the left, the former Chelsea winger directed a looping header over the despairing dive of Caoimhin Kelleher and into the far corner of goal. Arteta leapt up in celebration and Arsenal’s travelling band of fans erupted in joy.
But Brentford were not going quietly. Lewis-Potter’s driving run had set up Thiago for a shot that was blocked, and then the Brazilian went on a barnstorming run of his own after turning Gabriel on the halfway line, only to see Raya save his shot.
Lewis-Potter missed a great chance to score in the 64th minute when Jensen’s corner found him unmarked at the far post, but the winger put his header into the sidenetting. There was no such error from the former Hull winger six minutes later, however, as he bravely dived in to head home Brentford’s equaliser after Van Den Berg had flicked on Michael Kayode’s long throw.
It was only his third goal of the season but could have a huge bearing on the title race.
Mosquero looked to have made a fatal mistake when he lost the ball to Thiago, but as the Brazilian raced in on goal, the Spanish centre-back made amends with a brilliant block to recover.
Rice made a similarly well-timed interception to deny Brentford substitute Mikkel Damsgaard, before Thiago missed a golden chance to win all three points by blasting over the bar from twelve yards.
In a grandstand finish, which could have gone either way, Gabriel Martinelli looked certain to score with the goal at his mercy, only for Kelleher to sprint out and make a marvellous low save.
When the final whistle blew moments later, supporters on all sides of this compact but atmospheric ground stood to applause, though it will be Arsenal’s fans feeling a tinge of regret not to leave with three points.
Kelleher 8; Kayode 7, Van Den Berg 7, Ajer 7, Henry 7 (Hickey 90+4); Jensen 7, Yarmoliuk 6 Henderson 73), Janelt 7; Ouattara 7, Thiago 6, Lewis-Potter 7 (Damsgaard 73).
Raya 7; Timber 7, Mosquera 7, Gabriel 8, Hincapie 6 (Calafiori 81); Zubimendi 6, Rice 9; Madueke 7 (Saka 70), Eze 5 (Odegaard 46), Trossard 6 (Martinelli 81); Gyokeres 5.
John Brooks 6/10
