Mikel Arteta wanted to send a warning to Liverpool that Arsenal can push them all the way for the Premier League title and this was evidence that they mean business. Facing a Brentford side boasting the division’s best home record and trailing to an early Bryan Mbeumo strike, Arsenal hit back with goals from Gabriel Jesus – his sixth in his past four games – Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli to ensure that they moved to within six points of Arne Slot’s side, albeit from a game more.
It was far from a vintage performance from Arsenal and they once again needed a goal from a corner – their ninth of the season – to settle this contest. But having now gone 12 matches in all competitions without defeat and with the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri making another big impression on his first Premier League start, Arteta will sense that their momentum is slowly building even in the absence of their talisman Bukayo Saka.
