Arsenal were held to 1-1 draw with Brentford
Arsenal have been held to a 1-1 draw with Brentford at the Emirates Stadium, failing to win for the second straight Premier League match.
Neither side found the back of the net in the first half, but it was the visitors who had the better of the chances. Rico Henry missed an open net in the fifth minute, before Ivan Toney hit the post in the 25th.
Mikel Arteta’s side were better as the second half began, and broke through in the 66th minute through Leandro Trossard. The Belgium international had been on the pitch only a few minutes before he scored his first goal for Arsenal.
The hosts’ lead was short lived however, as Brentford equalised eight minutes later thanks to a header by Toney. Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing minutes but were forced to share the points.
Despite the failure to win, Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table increases to six points over Manchester City, who have played the same number of matches. Pep Guardiola’s side host Aston Villa tomorrow before traveling to the Emirates on Wednesday for a massive title race showdown.
The result means City can cut Arsenal’s lead to three points with a home win over Aston Villa on Sunday. With Arsenal then hosting City on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s team would go top on goal difference if it wins both matches — although the Gunners have played one game less.
Leandro Trossard’s first Arsenal goal gave the hosts the lead in the 66th minute when he steered in a cross from Bukayo Saka. But Ivan Toney equalized with a close-range header eight minutes later after the Gunners failed to clear a free kick.
Coming off a 1-0 loss at Everton last weekend, Arsenal looked flat again for much of the game and was even fortunate not to be behind at the break as Brentford wasted two great chances.
Toney’s cross from the right evaded Arsenal defenders to give Rico Henry an opportunity to score into an open net, but the full back couldn’t make clean contact with the ball and it sailed wide.
Toney then nearly scored in the 25th after Bryan Mbeumo teed him up inside the area, but the striker’s shot hit the corner of the goal frame.
