Arsenal held to draw by Brentford
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted he was left praying to escape the Gtech Community Stadium without suffering defeat, following a frustrating 1-1 stalemate against Brentford, reports BritPanorama.
The Gunners initially appeared poised to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table when Noni Madueke opened the scoring with a header in the 61st minute.
However, Brentford equalised just 10 minutes later, as Keane Lewis-Potter converted from a Michael Kayode long throw. This result meant Arsenal failed to re-establish their six-point advantage over title rivals Manchester City.
The closing stages of the match witnessed tense moments for both teams as the game descended into chaos. Cristhian Mosquera made a crucial sliding challenge to deny Igor Thiago a clear chance, while Brentford’s leading goalscorer squandered a golden opportunity, firing over the bar despite having a clear run at Arsenal’s goal.
At the other end, Gabriel Martinelli came close to reclaiming all three points for the visitors, but his effort was thwarted by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. After the match, Arteta reflected on the complexity of the contest, stating, “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… The chaos that is in and around that ball is very, very difficult to defend.”
Just four days prior, Manchester City were six minutes away from falling nine points behind Arsenal during their match against Liverpool, but they are now within striking distance. The title race remains tight, with Arsenal scheduled to visit the Etihad Stadium in April. When questioned about the momentum potentially shifting towards City, Arteta said: “I understand [the question] but that’s an if, if, if… 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.”
Concerns also arose regarding Arsenal’s discipline, as Gabriel narrowly avoided a second yellow card for a late tackle. Brentford manager Keith Andrews suggested it should have been a second caution, stating, “It would have made a bit of difference, that’s for sure… We played with a real determination to get the three points.”
In an intense contest between two determined sides, the outcome serves as a reminder that the margins in football remain razor-thin, illustrating how even the smallest moments can define a match and potentially the title race itself.
