HEAVEN 'N MIKEL
Brentford 1 Arsenal 3: Gunners start 2025 with a bang as Jesus, Merino and Martinelli seal fightback win from 1-0 down
Arteta's men looking good as kid Nwaneri shines at one of Prem's toughest venues
AS the Premier League season reached its halfway point, there is a flicker of hope that we might have a contest for the title.
Mikel Arteta’s obdurate, steely, resourceful Arsenal claimed a comeback victory at one of the toughest venues this competition has to offer - as goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli completed a perfect festive season for the Gunners.
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Jesus is suddenly in lethal form, there was yet another goal from a corner and the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri enjoyed a promising first league start as the Arsenal made light of the absence of four first-choice starters.
Over 12 days of Christmas football, they have claimed a maximum nine points - the only problem being that runaway leaders Liverpool have done the same.
Arsenal trail Arne Slot’s Red men by six points, having played a game more than the leaders.
Arteta’s perennial runners-up are hoping for a miraculous collapse from the Anfield club but at least they are showing themselves capable of building a relentless run of their own to keep in contention, just as they did in the opening months of 2024.
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Brentford, who have enjoyed so many thrilling wins here at their house of fun in the shadows of the Chiswick flyover, seized an early lead through Bryan Mbeumo’s tenth goal of the season.
But Arsenal - rarely pretty, but usually pretty effective - gritted their teeth and dragged it back on a cold, soggy Hounslow day.
With Bukayo Saka a long-term absentee and Kai Havertz struck down by illness, Arteta handed Nwaneri a full league debut at the ground where he’d made his first appearance off the bench as a 15-year-old schoolboy two seasons ago.
The Gunners boss made four changes in all - Declan Rice, not fully fit, dropped to the bench in favour of Merino, with Riccardo Calafiori replacing young full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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Brentford had been wobbly of late - winless in four games, and without a goal in two, having had their outstanding home record dented by a 2-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on their last outing at the Gtech Stadium.
Thomas Frank welcomed back Sepp van den Berg at centre-half, while Yehor Yormoliuk slotted into midfield.
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And the Bees started with a bang, scoring with their first serious effort on goal.
Mikkel Damsgaard’s well-weighted through-ball released Mbeumo, who cut inside from the right and drilled in a shot which beat David Raya at his near post.
Raya, facing his former club, almost blundered more spectacularly just before the half-hour when he spilled a straightforward Keane Lewis-Potter shot and had to recover with an acrobatic effort to claw it back off from the line, preventing a second Brentford goal by inches.
Arsenal were bossing possession but Brentford started the sharper, more purposeful side, winning a succession of 50-50s.
Then, just as Arsenal were threatening to subside, they equalised.
Thomas Partey lashed a shot from the edge of the area, Mark Flekken pushed it out but Jesus reacted quickest and met the rebound with a diving header.
It was the Brazilian’s sixth goal in four games - the rest of them all against Crystal Palace - and it was a lifeline the Gunners barely merited.
Arteta’s men were buoyed by their goal and pinned Brentford back for the rest of the half.
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Damsgaard floored Jesus with what looked like an accidental elbow and VAR found nothing to get excited about.
At the start of the second half, Arsenal took a complete stranglehold on proceedings - scoring twice in the space of two minutes, with Nwaneri playing his part in both.
The kid had threatened without much end product in the first period but five minutes after the restart, he whipped in a corner, Flekken completely botched his punch, Jesus had a shot blocked and Spanish midfielder Merino pounced to poke home.
It was Arsenal’s 25th Premier League goal from a corner since the start of last season - nine more than any other club.
Arsenal ratings vs Brentford
ARSENAL came from a goal down to triumph 3-1 over Brentford on New Year's Day.
Here's how the players rated...
DAVID RAYA - 6
Beaten at his near post by Mbeumo but not helped by slack defending. Almost doubled Brentford’s lead by fumbling a routine shot and forced to scramble back and clear off his own line. Shaky with ball at feet too. Not the best West London return.
JURRIEN TIMBER - 6
Lucky to escape further punishment after a clumsy first half lunge earned him only a yellow. Worked hard down the right but could not give Nwaneri the support he needed.
WILLIAM SALIBA - 7
Remained a calming presence when Arsenal struggled to create in the opening stages.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES - 7
A rock at the back defending set-pieces and aerial deliveries into his box.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI - 6
Should have done better to stop Mbeumo cutting inside for his opener. Far too easy.
THOMAS PARTEY - 7
Composed on the ball and with some neat and important interceptions. His curled shot paved the way for the equaliser.
MIKEL MERINO - 7
Won some important duels as Arsenal pinned Brentford back early on. Clinical in the box to put his side ahead after a goalmouth scramble.
MARTIN ODEGAARD - 6
Lost the ball in midfield before Brentford took the lead. A rare quiet outing. Lucky that others around him stepped up.
ETHAN NWANERI - 7
Struggled to have any real impact in open play, given the impossible job of replicating what Saka does out on the right wing. However, two deliveries into the box brought about two goals to secure the three points.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI - 8
Lively with little end product in the first half. That all changed after the break with a sweet volley to kill Brentford’s comeback hopes. Was a constant threat.
GABRIEL JESUS - 8
He just cannot stop scoring. His instincts in the box look to be back to the levels he produced at Manchester City.
SUBSTITUTES
LEANDRO TROSSARD (NWANERI, 78) – 6
Made a few good runs in behind but that was about it.
DECLAN RICE (MERINO, 78) – 6
Solidified the midfield. Played almost as a roaming No.10 when Odegaard went off.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (CALAFIORI, 78) – 6
So comfortable on the ball. Practically played as a left winger at times.
JORGINHO (ODEGAARD, 88) – N/A
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (JESUS, 90) – N/A
“Set-piece again, ole, ole,” sang the away supporters, although their dead-ball guru Nico Jover - once of Brentford - couldn’t claim much credit for this one.
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Soon it was 3-1. Nwaneri curled in a wicked centre which caused chaos, Nathan Collins only able to head out as far as Martinelli who arrowed a shot into the far corner with deadly accuracy.
Jesus soon went close to a fourth and Arsenal never looked remotely like letting the hosts back in.
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