Arsenal drop more title-race points with draw at Brentford

Arsenal’s cushion at the Premier League summit was trimmed to a fragile four points after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Brentford, the leaders managing only two shots on target all evening and squandering the chance to restore the six-point advantage they held 48 hours earlier.

Second-placed Manchester City’s mid-week win over Fulham had already shaved the gap to three, and Mikel Arteta’s side could extend it by only one after a night of graft at the Gtech Community Stadium that ended with the home side wondering how they had not completed a remarkable turnaround.

A tepid first half yielded no Arsenal attempt on target, Gabriel’s near-post flick from an early corner the closest they came, while David Raya, back at his former club, had to spring low to his left to claw away Igor Thiago’s 12-yard header.

The introduction of captain Martin Odegaard for the ineffective Eberechi Eze at the interval sharpened Arsenal’s edge, and the league leaders struck with their first purposeful effort moments after Bukayo Saka was readied on the touchline. Piero Hincapie thundered a cross into the corridor of uncertainty and Noni Madueke stooped to nod inside the far post.

Brentford’s response was instant. Keane Lewis-Potter glanced a free header wide from a corner, and only Michael Kayode’s perfectly-timed sliding intervention prevented Viktor Gyokeres from doubling the advantage after Declan Rice hesitated in the box.

The Bees’ pressure told 13 minutes from time. Kayode’s prodigious long throw was flicked on at the near post, Lewis-Potter out-muscled Odegaard at the back stick and steered home the equaliser.

Thomas Strakosha was a spectator thereafter as Brentford pushed for a dramatic winner. Gabriel escaped a second yellow for a high challenge on Dango Ouattara, Raya tipping the subsequent free-kick over, before Mosquera’s recovery tackle denied Thiago a clean break and Rice threw his body in the way of another Ouattara surge.

Arsenal’s best late opening fell to substitute Gabriel Martinelli, but the Brazilian could not convert a one-on-one, leaving Arteta to rue a third-lowest expected goals tally (0.6) of the Gunners’ league campaign.

The draw lifts Brentford within touching distance of the European places and leaves Arsenal four clear of City with 12 matches remaining, the leaders now winless in two and facing questions over their ability to negotiate the division’s more attritional assignments.

Player of the Match Michael Kayode embodied Brentford’s relentless display, marauding down the right, thwarting Gyokeres and launching the throw that engineered the leveller.

Keith Andrews’ side have now taken seven points from a possible nine against Aston Villa, Newcastle and the league leaders, their fearless, high-tempo approach turning the capital club into outside contenders for continental qualification.

Arteta, meanwhile, must re-ignite his squad ahead of a run-in where any further slip-ups could prove fatal to a title bid that only days ago appeared in firm control.