Arsenal came from behind to secure a Premier League win over Brentford on New Year’s Day 2025, closing the gap on leaders Liverpool to six points – despite having played a game more.
Bryan Mbeum’s form this season has led to transfer links with clubs like Arsenaland his 11th Premier League goal of the season put the home Bees ahead inside 13 minutes.
Arsenal hadn’t threatened a goal before that and were still off their shooting radar for most of a challenging opening half hour, until Thomas Partey’s shot was saved by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken and Gabriel Jesus pounced on the rebound to continue his prolific scoring form .
Just moments earlier, David Raya avoided disaster at the other end when he made amends for Keane Lewis-Potter’s mistimed tackle. However, in the ten minutes from the start of the second half, Arsenal had control over the game and did not let it go.
Arsenal’s corner – what else? – caused enough chaos in the Brentford penalty area shortly after half-time, with the ball falling invitingly for Mikel Merino. Hardly time had passed before Gabriel Martinelli fired home from just 12 yards after good play from the wing by Ethan Nwaneri.
Mikel Arteta’s side next play before Liverpool when they travel to the south coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday night. There will be an opportunity to cut the deficit in half and the points on the board are arguably more important than the games in play. Liverpool are due to host struggling Manchester United at Anfield just under 24 hours later.
Brentford, meanwhile, remain in 12th, convincingly clear of the relegation zone and still within one win of a place in the top half of the table ahead of the weekend’s away game at Southampton.
|
Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: Mark Flekken |
6.3/10 |
|
RB: Mads Roerslev |
5.7/10 |
|
CB: Nathan Collins |
6.2/10 |
|
CB: Sepp van den Berg |
6.4/10 |
|
LB: Keane Lewis-Potter |
5.9/10 |
|
CM: Vitalij Janelt |
6.3/10 |
|
CM: Christian Norgaard (c) |
6.3/10 |
|
CM: Yegor Jarmoljuk |
6.8/10 |
|
AM: Mikkel Damsgaard |
7.2/10 |
|
ST: Bryan Mbeumo |
7.5/10 |
|
ST: Yoane Wiss |
6.0/10 |
|
REPLACEMENT: Kim Ji-Soo (75′ for Van den Berg |
5.9/10 |
|
SUBSTITUTION: Mathias Jensen (75′ for Norgaard) |
6.2/10 |
|
SUBSTITUTION: Paris Maghoma (75′ for Damsgaard) |
6.0/10 |
|
SUBSTITUTION: Kevin Schade (75′ for Wiss) |
5.9/10 |
Unused substitutes: Hakon Valdimarsson (GK), Jayden Meghoma, Benjamin Arthur, Yunus Emre Konak, Tony Yogane.
|
Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: David Raya |
6.9/10 |
|
RB: Jurrien Timber |
7.5/10 |
|
CB: William Saliba |
7.6/10 |
|
CB: Gabriel |
7.3/10 |
|
LB: Riccardo Calafiori |
7.2/10 |
|
CM: Martin Odegaard (c) |
7.1/10 |
|
CM: Thomas Partey |
7.9/10 |
|
CM: Mikel Merino |
8.1/10 |
|
RW: Ethan Nwaneri |
7.3/10 |
|
St.: Gabriel Jesus |
8.2/10 |
|
LW: Gabriel Martinelli |
8.6/10 |
|
SUBSTITUTION: Leandro Trossard (78′ for Nwaneri) |
6.0/10 |
|
SUB: Declan Rice (78′ for Merino) |
5.8/10 |
|
REPLACEMENT: Myles Lewis-Skelly (78′ for Calafiori) |
6.3/10 |
|
SUBSTITUTION: Jorginho (88′ for Odegaard) |
ON |
|
SUBSTITUTION: Oleksandr Zinchenko (90+1′ for Jesus) |
ON |
Unused substitutes: Neto (GK), Jakub Kiwior, Kieran Tierney, Ismeal Kabia.
Man of the match – Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
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