Arsenal proved they will thrive with out the injured Bukayo Saka, kicking off the yr with a 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday. They recovered from an early setback to reclaim second place within the Premier League.
Saka, Arsenal’s standout participant this season, faces a two-month absence following hamstring surgical procedure, casting doubt on the membership’s title ambitions.
Facing a Brentford staff that has been formidable at residence, Arsenal knew they wanted a win, however the match bought off to a rocky begin when Bryan Mbeumo struck within the thirteenth minute, giving the hosts an early lead with their first assault.
Arsenal didn’t panic, although, and Gabriel Jesus continued his current resurgence to equalize earlier than halftime.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect got here out firing within the second half, and Mikel Merino put them forward 5 minutes after the restart after Brentford didn’t cope with a nook.
Three minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli produced a medical volleyed end to place Arsenal in full management.
The victory lifted Arsenal above Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, with 39 factors from 19 video games. Leaders Liverpool sit on 45 factors from 18 video games. Injury-hit Brentford’s second residence defeat of the season left them in twelfth spot with 24 factors from 19 video games.
Defeat would have left Arsenal 9 factors behind Liverpool, who even have a recreation in hand, however the way in which they reacted to going behind suggests they will nonetheless be an element within the title race.
Arteta may even have been impressed with 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri after handing him his first Premier League begin.
“I think the team showed a lot of composure. To keep insisting, keep attacking them,” Arteta, whose aspect is unbeaten in 11 video games throughout all competitions, stated.
“We can only win our next match and see what happens. It’s not in our hands, but what is in our hands, we need to make sure we do it.”
Arsenal didn’t lose a London derby in 2024 and have began off in comparable vogue.
They have been caught chilly, although, when Brentford burst ahead within the thirteenth minute, and Mbeumo was given an excessive amount of area to chop in from the proper and hearth a shot previous David Raya.
Raya was virtually left red-faced quickly after when he allowed a Mbeumo shot to burst by way of his gloves, however he managed to race again and claw the ball off the road.
It proved a pivotal second as lower than a minute later, Brentford was responsible of failing to clear the ball, and it will definitely arrived for Thomas Partey to fireside a shot that was parried by Mark Flekken. Jesus dived to go within the rebound.
It was the Brazilian’s sixth objective in his final 4 video games for Arsenal in all competitions, as many as in his earlier 48 video games for the membership.
“I keep working, and everyone at the club can tell how I work every day, not just me but everyone. I don’t give up, and it is not easy to play for a big club like Arsenal,” Jesus stated.
Arsenal’s effectivity from set-pieces was evident once more early within the second half when a nook prompted chaos within the space, and Merino was capable of hearth residence a free ball.
Martinelli gave the guests respiration area with an excellent end when the ball got here out to him on the sting of the field.
Source: www.dailysabah.com