Arsenal look to get back to winning ways and extend their superb record at home this season as they host Brentford. Only Newcastle have come away from the Emirates with anything to show for it in the Premier League this season, after a goalless draw last month.
Defeats to Manchester City in the FA Cup and then Everton in the League have somewhat stalled the Gunners’ momentum. They still sit five points clear at the top with a game in hand, but Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford another slip-up ahead of City’s trip to north London in midweek.
Brentford have wins over both Manchester clubs and Liverpool to their name already this season, though Thomas Frank believes this will be their toughest game yet. The Bees are unbeaten in the League since the World Cup, and enter the weekend only seven points off the top four. Follow Arsenal vs Brentford with our LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from the ground!
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Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
Ethan Pinnock looked marginally offside from the original free-kick there, but Brentford fans won’t care as Ivan Toney finally has a goal in this game after two bad misses. Brentford deservedly level despite a VAR check.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Brentford | Ivan Toney ‘74
74 mins: That wasn’t long!
After so many good chances, Brentford get on the scoresheet! Toney nods home after a bit of pin-ball in the box.
The header survives a VAR check.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
All that good defensive work from Brentford has now been undone. Toney will be particularly gutted that Trossard has put Arsenal ahead — having missed a glorious chance in each half
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
I refer you to my previous blog entry.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brentford | Leandro Trossard ‘66
66 mins: Scrach that, Trossard gives Arsenal the lead!
The super-sub slides in from Saka’s cross at the back post to tap in.
Arsenal restoring to trying from distance
65 mins: Nketiah and Gabriel are now shooting widly from range, which says so much about where Arsenal are this afternoon.
CHANCE FOR BRENTFORD!
55 mins: Toney hits one just wide! Should be scoring from just inside the box.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
Second half has started in much more open fashion than the first period did. Odegaard and Saka denied by Raya. At the moment, Brentford are thwarting Arsenal and seeking to break away…
CHANC FOR ARSENAL!
50 mins: Some quick passing finds Odegaard drifiting into the box from a wide position and the Arsenal captain hits a lovely clean strike, albeit one not carrying a huge amount of power.
Raya saves.
