Player Ratings: Mikel Merino scores again as Arsenal beat Brentford | OneFootball

Arsenal Extend Lead with Confident 2-0 Win over Brentford

Arsenal kept their grip on the Premier League summit with a composed and calculated 2-0 win over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium. The leaders controlled long periods of the contest, managed the tempo intelligently and found the late spark required to quieten a spirited second half from the visitors. For Arsenal, nights like this matter. These are the fixtures that test title-winning rhythms, especially when the opposition arrive with renewed purpose after the interval.

Keith Andrews’ Brentford enjoyed one of their brighter spells immediately after half-time. Kevin Schade’s close-range header, tipped onto the upright by David Raya, was their standout moment and signalled a brief shift in momentum. Yet it faded quickly. Arsenal adjusted well, introduced fresh quality from the bench and restored control. Bukayo Saka eventually settled matters in stoppage time when Caoimhin Kelleher failed to deal with his effort and pushed it into the net.

The victory owed much to Arsenal’s structure. Their passing sequences, particularly through the middle, regularly nudged Brentford’s block backwards. Players drifted between lines, creating overloads and forcing the visitors to defend deeper than they wanted. Andrews attempted to shake things up with all five substitutions, but the changes never quite established sustained pressure.

Arsenal Performance Overview

For Arsenal, this match showed a familiar pattern. Patience in possession, width provided by Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori, and midfield control driven by Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. Even when several key chances went begging, there was no panic. The late goal simply confirmed a performance that deserved breathing space.

Photo: IMAGO

Brentford’s Resistance and Shortcomings

Brentford worked hard without truly threatening often enough. Their defensive trio saw plenty of action but struggled with Arsenal’s movement. There were notable individual contributions, yet the collective unit lacked cohesion in key moments. The midfield, usually a source of energy and recovery, lost possession too frequently, inviting pressure rather than relieving it.

Player Ratings

Arsenal Player Ratings

David Raya 7Ben White 9Cristhian Mosquera 6Piero Hincapie 6Riccardo Calafiori 7Martin Zubimendi 7Declan Rice 7Martin Odegaard 6Noni Madueke 7Mikel Merino 8Gabriel Martinelli 6Jurrien Timber 6Eberechi Eze 6Bukayo Saka 7Viktor Gyokeres 6Manager Mikel Arteta 7

Brentford Player Ratings

Caoimhin Kelleher 5Ethan Pinnock 5Kristoffer Ajer 5Sepp van den Berg 6Michael Kayode 7Mathias Jensen 5Yehor Yarmoliuk 6Rico Henry 7Kevin Schade 6Dango Ouatarra 5Igor Thiago 5Jordan Henderson 5Nathan Collins 5Keane Lewis-Potter 5Keith Andrews 5