Arsenal kicked off the 2025 Premier League year with a 3-1 away win at Brentford. The Gunners didn’t let the Bees’ one-shot phenomenon throw them off track either.
Thomas Frank had more to say than Mikel Arteta (1-0 against Ipswich) after the 0-0 draw in Brighton – and yet Arsenal’s coach made four changes. One of them was unavoidable: Havertz was unexpectedly ill and was replaced by 17-year-old Nwaneri, who made his Premier League debut in the starting lineup.
Arsenal, who had kept three consecutive clean sheets in their last three matches at Brentford, started with plenty of possession and pressure. But the Bees once again proved that they are not experiencing any teething troubles this season: it was Brentford’s eighth goal of the 2024/25 season with their first shot on target. After a bad loss of the ball by Ödegaard, it was Mbeumo, who was not pressed by Calafiori in the penalty area, shot ice-cold into the short corner and confirmed the one-shot phenomenon (13′).
Arsenal lacked an approach to crack the team with the best home record in the league against Liverpool. But with high pressing, they managed to score after half an hour: after winning the ball in the opposing penalty area, Flekken inadequately parried Thomas’s shot in front of him – Gabriel Jesus headed in the rebound (29′). It was the Brazilian’s sixth goal in the last four competitive games.
Flekken doesn’t look good again
The draw held until five minutes after half-time, before the game was decided within 187 seconds: Merino headed in the ball after a corner, with Flekken looking unlucky again, into the empty net (50′). Shortly after, first-team debutant Nwaneri initiated, after a poor header from Collins, Gabriel Martinelli coolly scored to make it 3-1 (53′).
The home side’s morale was broken as a result. Even attacking changes like the one made by national player Schade (75th) could no longer turn the game around. Arsenal consolidated their second place with their fifth win in ten away games this season. Brentford, on the other hand, dropped to twelfth place.
