Premier League leaders Arsenal has run into what many are hoping is nothing more than a hiccup in recent weeks after the Gunners failed to set the record straight after last weekend’s loss at Everton during an entertaining and hard-fought 1-1 draw against visiting Brentford in north London.
FULL-TIME Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
The points are shared at Emirates Stadium following a tightly contested affair#ARSBRE pic.twitter.com/mdbKiF7Tsf
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 11, 2023
The first forty-five minutes at the Emirates left many of the home support frustrated on an afternoon when the Premier League leaders were in desperate need of a response after the frustrating away defeat at Goodison Park against Everton last weekend.
Though the Gunners crafted more chances before both sides headed into the changing rooms at the half-time interval, Brentford produced a higher xG and certainly will feel as though they could have been one or two nil to the good going into the break, especially after frontman Ivan Toney rattled the bar from close range when his form in front of goal otherwise dictated he surely would have found the back of the net.
But Arsenal came out flying in the second half with a flurry of chances but could not find the added push to get achieve the opener until another inspired substitute performance from January signing Leandro Trossard after the Belgian international forward broke the deadlock in the 66th minute to tap home from close range at the far post after a sizzling ball across the face of goal from Bukayo Saka found the former Brighton star unmarked.
It was an advantage that would not last long, however, after the aforementioned Toney headed home from inside the six-yard box after Arsenal failed to properly deal with Mathias Jensen’s free-kick into the area before Christian Nørgaard’s looping cross to the back post found the England striker free and clear to level matters after Aaron Ramsdale was left flapping in the breeze.
And that is where the scoreline would remain come full-time as Arsenal now faces the prospect of welcoming Manchester City to the capital on Wednesday and the knowledge that, should City win tomorrow and in midweek, Pep Guardiola’s men will have wrestled away control of the table from Arteta’s troops, who would still have a match in hand.
Arsenal Player Ratings
- GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 6
- RB: Ben White – 6.5
- CB: William Saliba – 6
- CB: Gabriel Magalhães – 6.5
- LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6
- CM: Thomas Partey – 7
- CM: Granit Xhaka – 6.5
- CAM: Martin Ødegaard – 6.5
- RW: Bukayo Saka – 6.5
- LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 6
- CF: Eddie Nketiah – 6
- Sub: Leandro Trossard – 7.5
- Sub: Fábio Vieira – 6
Brentford Player Ratings
- GK: David Raya – 7
- RCB: Kristoffer Ajer – 6.5
- CB: Ethan Pinnock – 7
- LCB: Ben Mee – 7
- RWB: Mads Roerslev – 7
- DM: Christian Nørgaard – 7.5
- LWB: Rico Henry – 6
- CM: Vitaly Janelt – 6.5
- CM: Mathias Jensen – 7
- RF: Bryan Mbeumo – 6.5
- LF: Ivan Toney – 8
- Sub: Yoane Wissa – 6
- Sub: Josh Dasilva – 6
- Sub: Kevin Schade – N/A
Key Performers
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𝗜𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿!
📽️: @NBCSportsSoccer | #ARSBRE pic.twitter.com/y4RL93favV
— SiriusXM FC 157 ⚽️📻 (@SiriusXMFC) February 11, 2023
Leandro Trossard gets his first Arsenal goal!
📺: @peacock #MyPLMorning | #ARSBRE pic.twitter.com/ptH2jMxBpq
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 11, 2023
And the place has just erupted.
Super sub Leandro….1st goal and what and what an important goal it could prove to be…
One nil To The Arsenal…#ARSBRE
— PG 🔴⚪ (@GoonerGirl1969) February 11, 2023
Consistent theme with Arsenal lately is slow touches and decisions vs these low, narrow blocks. The back-post cross is there with Martinelli cutting out to in to pull markets and Eddie overloading that backpost – however the ball hasn’t been played. #ARSBRE
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) February 11, 2023
Arsenal are being too timid. Pressure? Nerves? Whatever it is, we need to start playing like Champions-elect again.. or we won’t be Champions. Light the fire, Mikel! 🔥🔥#ARSBRE
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2023
Eddie Nketiah offers nothing when he isn’t scoring.. I know he’s a striker but come on man alter your game.#ARSBRE
— Noel Mc Govern (@noelmickedy) February 11, 2023
Opposing teams are going to keep doing this until Arsenal prove they can solve it. They’re allowing very few chances but hardly creating and, when they do, shooting inconceivably poorly. Just don’t play against Arsenal and they can’t beat you (right now anyway)#Arsenal #ARSBRE https://t.co/VlfUaEdJEy
— SouthMetroAFC (@SouthMetroAFC) February 11, 2023
