Arsenal failed to re-establish a six-point cushion at the summit of the Premier League after being held by Brentford in a match that left a sense of regret.
The leaders arrived knowing their advantage had been cut in half following Manchester City’s midweek victory over Fulham, and the trip to west London promised to be a demanding one given Brentford’s strong home record.
Early proceedings were flat, with little rhythm from the visitors as the hosts stayed compact and disciplined, limiting space between the lines and forcing Arsenal into harmless possession.
Clear openings were scarce before the interval, underlining the difficulty Arsenal had in finding a route through a defence that has been difficult to breach throughout the campaign.
Goals arrive but control slips away
The breakthrough eventually came just after the hour mark when Noni Madueke met Piero Hincapie’s delivery, nodding the ball back across goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to put Arsenal in front.
That moment appeared set to carry major significance in the championship race, especially with time ticking away and Brentford initially struggling to respond.
However, the home side struck back ten minutes later as Keane Lewis-Potter reacted fastest to a loose ball in the area, heading home following a long throw that caused chaos in the box.
From that point, Brentford grew in confidence, repeatedly posing problems from dead-ball situations while Arsenal searched for a decisive response.
Missed chance and Bees’ belief
Mikel Arteta turned to his bench, sending on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Riccardo Calafiori in an effort to regain momentum, yet control remained elusive.
Opportunities arrived at both ends in the closing stages. Igor Thiago was denied by a perfectly timed intervention from Cristhian Mosquera, while Martinelli was kept out by Kelleher during stoppage time.
Earlier, Arteta had handed Eberechi Eze his first league start since December, but the attacking midfielder was withdrawn at the break, with Martin Odegaard taking over the creative role.
For Brentford, the display reinforced their position in seventh place, just five points shy of the top four. Their pressing unsettled Arsenal, Thiago’s movement caused constant issues, and the late surge suggested a victory would not have flattered them.
Despite preseason doubts and significant changes behind the scenes, the Bees once again showed resilience and ambition, continuing to fuel hopes of a historic first venture into European competition.