Arsenal's preparations for their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid were dented on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford at the Emirates. Despite taking the lead through Thomas Partey, the Gunners failed to secure three points, and the result, coupled with fresh injury concerns, has left Mikel Arteta with plenty to ponder ahead of their trip to the Bernabéu.
The draw comes just days after Arsenal’s scintillating 3-0 win over Madrid, one of the most dominant performances under Arteta. However, that momentum was halted as Brentford displayed grit and discipline to frustrate the Gunners, earning a valuable point through Yoane Wissa's 16th goal of the Premier League season.
Partey, making a rare start, gave Arsenal the lead midway through the second half following a blistering counter-attack initiated by Declan Rice. But any joy was short-lived. The Ghanaian midfielder was forced off just minutes later with a muscle issue, casting doubt on his availability for Wednesday’s showdown. Arteta confirmed the problem post-match, stating, “He felt something, so we didn’t want to take any risks.” The extent of the injury remains unclear.
Further adding to Arsenal's woes, Jorginho was also substituted late after a heavy fall left him struggling to breathe properly, suggesting a potential rib injury. With all five substitutions already used, the Gunners had to finish the match with ten men.
Ben White, another key figure in Arsenal’s recent form, was left out entirely due to a knock picked up in training. Arteta was noncommittal about his return, saying, “We’ll have to wait and see.”
Despite the injury setbacks, Arsenal started brightly and thought they had taken an early lead when Kieran Tierney headed in from Ethan Nwaneri’s cross. However, the goal was disallowed for offside after semi-automated technology – making its Premier League debut – intervened.
Brentford, despite having just 0.19 expected goals (xG), made the most of limited chances. Wissa’s equalizer, crafted from a second-phase corner, was brilliantly improvised and showed why he and Bryan Mbeumo are among the league’s most productive duos. The Bees became the first team this season to have two players with 15 or more goals in the Premier League.
Arsenal dominated possession and territory in the final stages, with Saka coming closest in stoppage time, only for substitute Michael Kayode to deny him with a crucial intervention. Kayode also assisted the equalizer, making a big impact on both ends.
While Arteta rested several stars in anticipation of Madrid, the lack of intensity and sharpness was evident. The Gunners have now dropped 16 points from winning positions this season a worrying trend at this stage of the campaign.
With the Premier League title slipping out of reach and Liverpool surging ahead, Arsenal's European ambitions take center stage. But with injuries piling up and momentum disrupted, they’ll need focus and resilience to see off Real Madrid and keep their Champions League dream alive.
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