Arsenal fight back to beat Brentford
Brentford 1 - 3 Arsenal
Arsenal staged an impressive comeback to beat Brentford in the first Premier League match of 2025, bolstering their title ambitions.
Bryan Mbeumo gave the hosts an early lead, but Gabriel Jesus levelled the score with his sixth goal in four matches. Arsenal then took control with quickfire goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli, sealing a valuable three points in west London.
Manager Mikel Arteta’s team selection paid off, despite leaving Kai Havertz out due to illness and handing 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri his first Premier League start. The win lifts Arsenal back to second, six points behind leaders Liverpool, while Brentford remain 12th.
Brentford struck first in the 12th minute after Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard’s misplaced pass in midfield. Mikkel Damsgaard pounced on the error, threading a ball to Mbeumo, who cut inside and beat former Brentford goalkeeper David Raya at his near post.
Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm in the opening half-hour, feeling the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka. However, they pulled level when Gabriel Jesus headed in a rebound after Thomas Partey’s effort was pushed away by Mark Flekken.
Match report: Arsenal 1 - 0 Ipswich
After a laboured first half, Arsenal found their stride after the break. They took the lead when Brentford failed to deal with a corner, with Flekken missing his punch and Merino firing home from close range.
Just three minutes later, Martinelli smashed a loose ball into the net from 12 yards, extending the lead to 3-1. From there, Arsenal controlled the game comfortably as Brentford’s intensity faded.
The best Arsenal reaction
My view as an Arsenal fan: "That was a great win for us. Brentford are not easy team to play against, especially when they 1-0 up at home. However, even when we were losing, the team remained patient. They managed the situation well and picked up an important win."
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Peter, another Arsenal fan, provided more insight than I managed: "Mikel Arteta’s selection saw Ethan Nwaneri start his first Premier League game, while Kai Havertz, prolific in London derbies, was rested. We managed to extend our unbeaten run to 12 matches despite a shaky start, falling behind and benefiting from Brentford’s defensive lapses. Nwaneri impressed under pressure, justifying Arteta’s decisions as we secured the win. If we can continue winning even below their best, fans will remain confident that we can win our first title since 2004."
Do Brentford have defensive concerns?
Brentford built their strong early-season form on a solid home record, but have now suffered consecutive defeats at the Community Stadium and looked uninspired after falling behind in this match.
Bryan Mbeumo’s fine form continues, with only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, and Alexander Isak scoring more in the Premier League this season.
However, defensive lapses cost Brentford dearly. They were slow to react to Arsenal’s first and third goals, while Mark Flekken’s weak punch led to the second.
The Bees and Ipswich remain the only sides yet to keep a home clean sheet in the league this season. With just one win in their last seven matches, Thomas Frank must act quickly to prevent Brentford slipping into mid-table and losing out on a potential challenge for European qualification.
