Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted winning the Premier League title is “unlikely” after the Gunners dropped yet more points after Brentford fought back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
There was a feel-good factor at the Emirates Stadium after the comprehensive midweek win over European champions Real Madrid, but Brentford were out to spoil the party and it took until the 61st minute for the Gunners to break the deadlock.
Declan Rice produced a trademark lung-busting run before teeing up Thomas Partey for the opener as Arsenal looked to be closing the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to eight points.
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Declan Rice ran the length of the pitch and assisted Thomas Partey to put Arsenal 1-0 up against Brentford in their Premier League clash
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Yoane Wissa brings Brentford level in their Premier League clash with Arsenal
However, Yoane Wissa hit back for the visitors 16 minutes from time as Brentford held on for a point, which leaves Liverpool with the chance to open up a 13-point gap at the top when they face West Ham, live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday. Arne Slot’s side now just need a maximum on nine points from their remaining seven matches to wrap up the title.
When asked about his side’s title chances, Arteta said: “Today what we wanted to do was increase the probability of us really challenging for what we are looking for in the Premier League. With that result, it’s more unlikely to happen.”
Sunday 13th April 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
After Arsenal’s midweek heroics Mikel Arteta rung the changes, but after David Raya’s smart block denied Kristoffer Ajer, the Gunners grew into the game.
They thought they had the lead when Kieran Tierney headed home Ethan Nwaneri’s cross for what he thought was a first Premier League goal since December 2021, but with semi-automated offside technology in action for the first time this weekend, the goal was ruled out, with the Scot straying just beyond the last defender.
Moments later, Arsenal were left furious after Christian Norgaard flew into a tackle on Gabriel Martinelli as the Gunners forward looked to break into the Brentford half. Referee Simon Hooper produced a yellow card for the Brentford skipper, but the Gunners wanted more for what Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp described as a “desperate lunge”.
Arsenal finished the first half strongly as they searched for the breakthrough but Brentford had Mark Flekken to thank after he produced a super stop to keep out Leandro Trossard’s long-range drive.
It needed some smart thinking from Raya, who released Rice on his long run downfield, before Partey smashed home what Arsenal thought was the winner, but Brentford were not to be denied as Wissa stopped Arteta’s men in their tracks as they were forced to settle for a second consecutive 1-1 draw in the league.
Arteta: League title unlikely to happen
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta gave a cryptic answer on Christian Norgaard’s tackle on Gabriel Martinelli that earned him a yellow card
Arsenal boss Arteta was left frustrated by the result and conceded that winning the Premier League title is now “unlikely to happen”.
“We are disappointed with the result, he told Sky Sports. “We had full control of the game and conceded a very poor goal. It was not good enough and when you don’t do what you have to do against this team, you concede a goal.
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Following Arsenal’s draw against Brentford, Liverpool are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand. When could they seal the title?
“I don’t know, the atmosphere was different to Tuesday, that’s for sure.
“I don’t know if it was playing in the back of the [crowd’s minds], for us as professionals we know the importance of that.
“Today what we wanted to do was increase the probability of us really challenging for what we are looking for in the Premier League. With that result, it’s more unlikely to happen.”
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Martinelli believed Christian Norgaard’s tackle could have broken his leg and deserved a red card
Full focus on Real Madrid now
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz at the Emirates Stadium:
“There were no boos from the Arsenal fans at the Emirates. The Arsenal players were clapped off, despite the obvious frustration of the result.
“After the night the players had on Tuesday, it’s understandable they still had plenty of credit in the bank with the supporters.
“However, there was still frustration as the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw in the league for the second consecutive game.
“Any remaining hope of catching Liverpool that Arsenal might have had is now gone and the priority is once again Real Madrid.
“It’s all about the Champions League now for Arsenal and if they progress against Real on Wednesday, this will be forgotten.”
Frank: We will keep pushing for Europe
The points moves Brentford up to 11th, two points adrift of the top half, and boss Thomas Frank is targeting a strong finish to the season with the aim of securing European football for next season.
“Of course, it is a very good point against a very good Arsenal team that beat Real Madrid four days ago,” he told Sky Sports.
“Fighting back to get to 1-1 shows the character in our team. I would have loved us to create more but they also defended very well.
“We would love to compete for Europe and aim for as high as possible in many ways. That is what we are fighting for every single year and game.
“We are never celebrating a point but it is a very good point. We will keep pushing. We need a perfect run but we take one game at a time.”
Story of the match in stats…
Opta stats: Arsenal let lead slip again…
- Arsenal have dropped 16 points from winning positions this season (eight draws), just one fewer than they had in the past two campaigns combined (eight in 2022/23, 9 in 2023/24).
- Brentford had an expected goals total of just 0.19 against Arsenal. It is the fourth lowest xG for a team to avoid defeat in a Premier League match this season, with two of the other three also coming against Arsenal (Everton 0.09 in December, Fulham 0.16 in December).
- Declan Rice has been involved in 16 goals in 44 games in all competitions this season (7 goals, 9 assists), his joint-best return in a single campaign (also 7 goals and 9 assists in 51 games last season).