Leaders Arsenal claimed three more points in their Premier League title push as Mikel Merino's early goal and a late one from substitute Bukayo Saka earned them a nervy 2-0 home victory over Brentford on Wednesday.
Spaniard Merino headed in from Ben White's cross after 11 minutes as the hosts stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 but it was a night of hard graft.
Kevin Schade hit the crossbar for a well-drilled Brentford in the first half and Arsenal looked laboured after the break until Saka eased the growing sense of anxiety in the first minute of stoppage time.
It was far from fluent from Mikel Arteta's side but he will not care about that as his team re-established a five-point lead at the top over Manchester City. They have 33 points from 14 games with City on 28. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings and Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Brentford latest news
- GOAL! Saka sends Gunners five points clear
- GOAL! Merino heads home early opener
Player ratings
21:36 , Alex YoungFull-time!
21:27 , Alex Young97min: That’s your lot! Arsenal move five points clear, again!
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
21:24 , Alex Young93min: Six minutes were added on, by the way. Halfway through.
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
21:23 , Alex Young92min: It hasn’t been pretty, but the Gunners are going five point clear.
GOAL!
21:22 , Alex Young91min: Saka buries this one!
Game, set and match as Saka runs onto the through ball, cuts back and drills a shot at the keeper, who cannot keep it out.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:20 , Alex Young89min: A superb run from Calafiori, going past two, to force Kelleher into a good save, and Saka cannot bury the follow up!
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:16 , Alex Young86min: Hincapie is OK to continue.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:15 , Alex Young85min: And now Hincapie needs treatment after a slight clash of heads.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:14 , Alex Young84min: Rice looks OK as he hobbles off, clapping the fans.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:14 , Alex Young83min: Gyokeres is getting ready to come on, but Rice is down and needs treatment.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:09 , Alex Young78min: First chance for Saka to spin and get in a cross, but Brentford stand firm to head clear.
Arsenal starting to camp out in the Bees’ half now.
Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates
21:05 , Alex YoungBrentford's changes have failed to make a difference. It has been all Arsenal in the last 15 minutes.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:03 , Alex Young73min: Lewis-Potter and Collins are being readied.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
21:00 , Alex Young69min: Oh, Merino!
A superb shot from Rice, after cutting inside, to force Kelleher into a low save to his right. Merino looks certain to gobble up the rebound, but his balance is off so cannot tuck home.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:57 , Alex Young66min: Half-hearted shouts of an Arsenal penalty after Merino goes down as Kelleher tries to collect the ball. The referee isn’t interested, despite Merino’s rolling around.
It’s clearly not a penalty, and VAR agree.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:55 , Alex Young65min: First yellow card of the game goes to Yarmolyuk who cynically pulling back Eze.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:51 , Alex Young62min: And here comes Eze and Saka, replacing Madueke and Martinelli.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:50 , Alex Young60min: Cometh the hour, Thiago is on. And so is Henderson.
Schade and Janelt are off.
Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates
20:48 , Alex YoungFPL fanatics can relax, here comes Igor Thiago.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:46 , Alex Young56min: Arteta a little more animated on the touchline, perhaps. Arsenal struggling to find a way through the Brentford defence quite as well as in the first half.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:43 , Alex Young52min: Arsenal are trying to calm things down, but Brentford are pressing them impressively.
Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates
20:41 , Alex YoungBrentford have started the better of the two teams in the second half.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:39 , Alex Young50min: Delivery is deep to the back post, and Janelt’s header under pressure bounces wide.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:39 , Alex Young49min: Brentford come back and win a corner. Schade poised under the crossbar.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:37 , Alex Young47min: First half-chance falls to Brentford as they win a free kick around 30 yards out. It’s floated in... and sails out of play.
A quarter-chance, then.
Second half
20:34 , Alex YoungAnd we are back underway.
Here come the teams for the second half. Doesn’t look like there will be any changes.
We have more on Mosquera’s injury from Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates.
Merino’s header and Raya’s save is the difference at the break.
Brentford will feel they could still nick this, but a second Arsenal goal feels very likely.
Half-time!
20:18 , Alex Young49min: There’s your lot for the first half.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:16 , Alex Young46min: Three minutes added on.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:15 , Alex Young44min: Back underway. We should see extended first-half injury time.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:14 , Alex Young43min: Replays suggest Mosquera could have landed awkwardly after challenging for a ball with Schade.
And he is being replaced by Timer.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:13 , Alex Young42min: Timber is being readied.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:12 , Alex Young41min: Hold on, this could be bad news for Arsenal. Mosquera looks in some discomfort.
He’s sat on the pitch and requires medical attention.
Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates
20:10 , Alex YoungArsenal have made more than double the amount of passes Brentford have, such is their dominance. A second goal feels inevitable right now.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:10 , Alex Young39min: Henry is keeping Brentford in this!
After the corner is cleared, Arsenal game come back and again Madueke is slipped into the area. No one has read Mosquera’s pass except Henry, who races back to tackle Madueke.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:09 , Alex Young37min: Madueke almost does kill the game, running onto Rice’s low cross to slot home at the back post, but Henry gets in a crucial block to concede the corner.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
20:08 , Alex YoungFeels a big period now for Brentford, to try and hold on to half time. Arsenal are turning the screw. A second goal would kill the game.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:04 , Alex Young34min: Awful delivery from Madueke. Barely reached the first man.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:04 , Alex Young33min: The ball comes back as Rice drives through the centre and into the area, delays a shot before trying to cut the ball back. Another corner.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:03 , Alex Young32min: Madueke wins a corner, plays it short before getting the ball back and sending in a cross which is cleared.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
20:02 , Alex Young31min: Arteta full of voice on the sidelines. He will be happy with what he’s seen so far, but Brentford are not without threat.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:59 , Alex Young28min: One of you!
Almost a second for Arsenal as Calafiori’s flick sends White into the area, he doesn’t quite control the pass so Martinelli runs onto it... and fires over.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:57 , Alex Young26min: Oof, Henry may have got away with one then. He lets the ball bounce, misjudges the flight and Madueke spins away and down on goal... only for the referee to call the play back.
Didn’t see a foul there, myself.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:55 , Alex Young24min: A lovely flick from Schade almost releases Dango, but Mosquera reacts quickly to mop up.
Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates
19:53 , Alex YoungSet pieces have been Brentford's route to goal and they nearly have a leveller. Off the bar from Schade.
Schade's ability in the air is criminally underrated. Beto, Barry and Haaland are the only forwards with more aerial duels won this season.
OFF THE CROSSBAR!
19:52 , Alex Young21min: Almost an equaliser as Janelt’s corner delivery is met by Schade, but his header comes back off the woodwork!
Did Raya get a touch? Yes. What a save.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:51 , Alex Young20min: At the back, White slides in to block Dango’s shot. He’s everywhere tonight, keen to make an impression.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:48 , Alex Young18min: And now White fires into the side netting after being fed into the area by Martinelli.
Probably should have looked up, but you can’t blame him too much.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:48 , Alex Young17min: Superb quick feet from Madueke, who uses White’s dummy run to jink past one defender and fire off a quick shot straight at Kelleher.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
19:45 , Alex Young14min: A decent reaction from Brentford to going behind, pushing up into the Arsenal final third and forcing the hosts back.
Sam Tabuteau at the Emirates
19:44 , Alex YoungThis is going to be a long night for Brentford if the game continues as it does. Arsenal have rotated but they look full of energy, especially down the right flank.
GOAL!
19:42 , Alex Young11min: As Simon was just saying/typing/reporting... that right-hand side comes up trumps!
White to Madueke to White, to Merino to head home the opener!
Great cross, big jump, superb header.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
19:40 , Alex YoungNo Saka or Timber, but Arsenal's right side has started well and looks slick. Madueke and White are combining really nicely.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
19:39 , Alex Young8min: Arsenal back to patiently passing the ball around their defence and midfield, probing Brentford.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
19:37 , Alex Young7min: Which Jensen takes, and sends it over everyone’s head. A waste.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
19:37 , Alex Young6min: Kayode with his first long throw - which Arteta described yesterday as a “massive weapon” - and he wins Brentford a corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
19:35 , Alex Young5min: Rice takes, Schade heads clear as far as Madueke, who is crowded out.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
19:35 , Alex Young4min: First corner for Arsenal, who have dominated possession.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
19:33 , Alex Young3min: Talk of five at the back and three at the back for Brentford, it might actually be a traditional 4-4-2 from Andrews.
Kick-off!
19:30 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Here come the teams!
Not long until kick-off now. Arteta will want those fans in their seats.
Andrews allays Thiago injury fears
19:21 , Alex YoungKeith Andrews has appeared to allay injury fears over Brentford striker Igor Thiago ahead of Wednesday evening’s game at Arsenal.
Thiago has been named on the bench as the Bees prepare to take on league leaders at the Emirates Stadium.
The Brazilian, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions for Brentford this season, had been a doubt for tonight’s game after being withdrawn late on during the Bees’ 3-1 win over Burnley.
Andrews, though, said Thiago’s admission was tactical, with Brentford setting up in a 3-5-2 formation against Mikel Arteta’s men.
Simon Collings reports
19:12 , Alex YoungHere’s our Arsenal reporter with more on the team news.
🤔 "I can't think of many Premier League games where Saka has been benched."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) December 3, 2025
Here's @sr_collings with more on that surprising Arsenal team news.#ARSBRE | #AFC | #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/rVpfmHyPaM
Arteta and Rice's plea to fans
19:04 , Alex YoungMikel Arteta was at pains yesterday to make sure the fans are in their seats at kick-off.
He repeatedly told everyone in attendance the kick-off time, which is earlier at 7.30pm of course, and called on the fans to behave like "animals".
Now Declan Rice has called on the fans to help: "The fans have been incredible recently and really helped us at the Emirates, so we are hoping that they can do that again tonight because it is a massive night for us."
Andrews explains Thiago benching
18:54 , Alex Young"I feel it's right. Tough week, tough games. We have the luxury of making changes and a couple of knocks to consider.
It's about tonight, in terms of the confidence I have in the group. There's a calmness about the players. I have no doubts about the players coming into the team. They are consummate professionals.
"Thiago's having an amazing season, especially off the back of his injury last year. He's taken the division by storm. But we are playing in a slightly different way tonight. We've got different strengths in our armoury we are looking to utilise."
As Simon reports, it is a big call from Arteta to change three of Arsenal’s five attackers. Martin Odegaard will have to hit the ground running in his first start in two months.
Ben White has big shoes to fill after replacing Jurrien Timber, but he has proven in the past that he’s capable.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
18:43 , Alex YoungThree changes for Arsenal, but they are big ones. A real surprise to see Saka and Timber benched given their importance to Arsenal - but Arteta has the depth to do it this season.
Sam Tabuteau at Emirates Stadium
18:35 , Alex YoungIgor Thiago, who has 11 Premier League goals this season, is on the bench for Brentford. That's a big call. Keith Andrews has gone defensive, setting up with a five-man defence, and rotating in midfield, with Vitaly Janelt coming into the side.
Eze, Saka, Timber and Thiago dropped
18:32 , Alex YoungMikel Arteta has decided to rotate after three huge games and a draining draw at Chelsea.
Out go Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, in come Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Ben White.
Brentford forward Igor Thiago also dropped out amid fitness concerns, as Keith Andrews also rings the changes with five new faces and a five-man defence.
Confirmed team news in full
18:24 , Alex YoungArsenal XI: David Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Merino, Martinelli
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Saka, Jesus, Gyokeres
Brentford XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Pinnock, Ajer, Van den Berg, Henry; Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Janelt; Schade; Ouattara
Subs: Valdimarsson, Collins, Arthur, Henderson, Onyeka, Damsgaard, Donovan, Thiago, Lewis-Potter
Brentford XI
18:17 , Alex YoungThiago is on the bench.
Your Bees to take on Arsenal 🐝 pic.twitter.com/SESlv6VohC
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 3, 2025
Arsenal XI
18:16 , Alex YoungCaptain fantastic is back.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 3, 2025
👊 White at right-back
©️ Odegaard in midfield
💫 Madueke on the wing
Let’s do this, Gunners! 👊
The Emirates under the lights tonight.
Arsenal vs Brentford prediction
18:03 , Alex YoungThree tough games in seven days ultimately took its toll on Arsenal against Chelsea as many players looked tired - especially in the second half.
The return of key attackers such as Viktor Gyokeres, Madueke and Odegaard should inject some freshness into the Gunners which we expect to be enough to sting the Bees.
Arsenal to win, 3-0.
Predicted XIs
17:55 , Alex YoungTeam news to come at 6.15pm. Here is how our football reporters expect both teams to line up.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Madueke
Brentford predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Hickey, Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Ouattara, Thiago, Schade
Andrews says Brentford take confidence to Arsenal
17:47 , Alex YoungKeith Andrews is convinced his Brentford side will be no pushovers tonight.
"It's pretty obvious that it's going to be a difficult task, but it's also a task that we need to embrace," he said at Tuesday’s press conference.
"They're a tough nut to crack, for sure. They don't concede too many and don't concede too many opportunities, but we're a team that quite fancies ourselves in how we can affect the opposition and make it quite uncomfortable for them at times.
"That's what we'll be hoping to do on Wednesday night."
Andrews accepts set-pieces could be key to the game, with both sides having excelled in that area this term.
He said: "I think this will be a game where it plays a very big part, and we hope we can come out on the right side of it.”
Arteta on Kayode's 'massive throw-in weapon'
17:40 , Alex Young“They certainly have that weapon like Stoke had and like other teams are trying to build as well, because obviously of the difficulty, because of the organisation of the teams, to score goals and to produce big chances.
“It is decreasing and they have that opportunity every time the ball goes out of play.
“Normally I was more outside the box [defending long throws] because of my size, so I was lucky I didn’t have to compete for the first ball. It is a very chaotic situation, it is very difficult to predict what is going to happen.”
Arteta reveals new way Rice can become even bigger threat
17:33 , Alex YoungMikel Arteta has backed Declan Rice to become a long-throw expert - in the same way he has mastered set-pieces.
Rice’s set-piece threat has evolved this season to the extent that he is now taking long throws for Arsenal.
His prowess does not compare to that of Brentford’s Michael Kayode - more on that shortly - but Arteta believes he can become a real threat.
“Everything has to evolve,” said the Arsenal boss. “I don’t know how good he was a year ago, or two years ago, or three years ago.
“I know how good Declan was at taking set-pieces three or four years ago, and I know how good he is now.
“So, it does not happen overnight. Things have to be trained, evolved and tweaked. And the player has to believe as well, which is key.
“He can become anything he wants. When you look at Declan, he can do almost everything you require him to do.”
Why Arsenal have Odegaard back from injury at an ‘ideal’ time
17:26 , Alex YoungIt has so far been a frustrating season for Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain has been dogged by injuries to the extent that he has played just 237 minutes in the Premier League.
Two shoulder injuries and a knee issue have kept Odegaard on the sidelines but he is fit again and could make his first start in two months against Brentford tonight.
The Norwegian has been itching to return - using an anti-gravity running machine to speed up his rehabilitation - and is eager to make up for lost time.
“I guess that’s one of the good signs about being injured,” said Odegaard. “You get more hungry and more excited to play football again. That’s the good part of it, I’m desperate to get going again.”
In Odegaard’s absence, others have stepped up. Eberechi Eze, in particular, has excelled in midfield and scored a hat-trick against Tottenham in last month’s north London derby.
For the first time in his Arsenal career, Odegaard has genuine competition and it means his return from injury has been carefully managed.
The 26-year-old played nine minutes off the bench against Bayern Munich last Wednesday, before getting over half an hour under his belt at Chelsea at the weekend.
The next step is for Odegaard to start and tonight feels like the ideal make that jump.
Read more from Simon Collings here!
Early Brentford team news
17:20 , Alex YoungBrentford have been sweating over the fitness of Igor Thiago ahead of tonight, with a late decision expected over his involvement.
The striker was taken off in stoppage time at the end of Brentford’s 3-1 win over Burnley and Keith Andrews said he would undergo a late fitness test.
The 24-year-old was withdrawn as a precaution against Burnley, with Andrews admitting he was dealing with a few knocks.
"We've got a couple of knocks and bruises," Andrews told reporters. "But you get that from a game like the one we had at the weekend.
"We've got a couple of bits and bobs that we'll have to decide on but, in the main, we're in a good place."
Meanwhile Josh Dasilva, Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo remain long-term absentees.
Reiss Nelson, who is on loan from Arsenal, is unavailable to play against his parent club.
Midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk is expected to come back in to the team after being benched against Burnley.
Early Arsenal team news
17:12 , Alex YoungMartin Odegaard is in line to make his first start in two months tonight.
The captain has come off the bench in Arsenal’s last two games against Bayern Munich and Chelsea, getting 42 minutes under his belt.
Mikel Arteta could make further changes to his side, after three huge games, though he is short of options in defence with Gabriel out with a thigh injury and William Saliba struggling with a knock that forced him to miss the Chelsea game.
Leandro Trossard is also a doubt due to a calf injury, so Gabriel Martinelli or Noni Madueke are primed to come in on the left flank, although Eberechi Eze could move out there.
Viktor Gyokeres is back in contention to start, although Mikel Merino has performed well in his absence and so could keep his place.
How to watch Arsenal vs Brentford
17:05 , Alex YoungTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 6.30pm GMT on Sky Sports Main Event ahead of kick-off at 7.30pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights shortly after the game with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.40pm GMT.
Welcome
16:59 , Alex YoungGood evening and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Brentford.
It’s another London derby for the Gunners, who were slightly off the boil in a 1-1 draw with 10-man Chelsea at the weekend.
They have since seen their lead at the top cut to two points, despite Fulham’s valiant efforts against Manchester City last night
Brentford have impressed so far this season - could they continue that trend tonight? Kick-off is at the earlier time of 7.30pm. Stick with us.
