By MATT BARLOW, FOOTBALL WRITER
Published: 16:51 EST, 3 December 2025 | Updated: 17:06 EST, 3 December 2025
Nobody likes to find Brentford behind the first window of the Premier League advent calendar. Even when under-strength, they are notoriously stubborn. They are physical and aerial with an appetite for a big scalp.
And there were times when Mikel Arteta must have wondered as injury concerns stacked up. First Cristhian Mosquera, hurt in the first half, and then, worryingly, Declan Rice, who went down in the closing stages and pointed the physio towards his right calf before hobbling off.
But Arsenal came through this latest test without finding their best rhythm, to restore the five-point gap at the top of the Premier League.
For Arteta there is the satisfaction of three more points, a tenth win of the Premier League season and more evidence that they have the strength in depth and mental resilience to power through this phase of the campaign when things can go wrong.
Goals by Mikel Merino and a late second from substitute Bukayo Saka and another clean sheet did the job. Unbeaten in 18. Unbeaten through September, October, November and into December. Onto Aston Villa on Saturday, clearing all hurdles put before them.
Arteta had sought to freshen his team up with three changes and his decision paid instant dividends when Ben White and Noni Madueke, replacing Jurrien Timber and Saka and forming a new right flank, combined to create the opener.
Arsenal came through this latest test without finding their best rhythm, to restore the five-point gap at the top of the Premier League - and recorded their 10th win of the current campaign
The Gunners' opener came through Mikel Merino before substitute Bukayo Saka scored late on
Declan Rice hobbled off in the second half after pointing the physio towards his right calf
White, making his first appearance since the opening game of the season, charged forward onto flick by Madueke and clipped a cross towards Merino, who headed in from six yards, his fifth goal of the season for Arsenal, as Brentford defenders froze obligingly.
He may be a midfielder by trade but once inside the penalty box, Merino has the instinct of a natural centre forward. Sling in the crosses and he picks up the flight early, gets on the end of them and can find a finish, including headers.
With only 11 minutes gone, it really should have been a perfect nerve settler for the Premier League leaders. The Bees crossed the capital and lined up with five at the back and, at first glance, the hint of a team with eyes on another North London date, at Spurs on Saturday.
Boss Keith Andrews had four of his most influential players - captain Nathan Collins, top scorer Igor Thiago, last season’s player of the year and creative spark Mikkel Damsgaard and England veteran Jordan Henderson - starting on the bench.
On top of which they were untidy in the opening phase, conceding the early goal. The home crowd seemed to settle in for a victory procession, but Brentford are nothing if not spirited and they did come to life, flickering on the break and threatening from corners and the Michael Kayode long throws.
Without first-choice centre halves Gabriel and William Saliba, Arsenal are a touch more susceptible than usual under the high ball, always one of Brentford’s tactical strengths. David Raya produced a wonderful reflex save midway through the first half to stop his former club pulling level, turning a header by Kevin Schade from a corner onto the bar.
It was a timely warning and Arsenal sharpened up again. Gabriel Martinelli fired over another chance created from the right and twice Rico Henry reacted quickly to foil Madueke.
Without first-choice centre halves Gabriel and William Saliba, Arsenal are a touch more susceptible than usual under the high ball which is always one of Brentford’s tactical strengths
David Raya produced a wonderful reflex save midway through the first half to stop his former club pulling level, turning a header by Kevin Schade from a corner onto the bar
The second proved elusive and then came another defensive injury concern for Arteta. It seemed to be an innocuous incident. Mosquera sprang into the air, landed awkwardly and went hobbling off down the tunnel after a few minutes of treatment.
Timber came on and into the centre of defence alongside Piero Hincapie. Although Timber’s Arsenal career has been almost exclusively as a right back, he has plenty of experience in central defence, including for the Netherlands.
MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya 6.5; White 6.5, Mosquera 6 (Timber 43, 6.5), Hincapie 7, Calafiori 7; Odegaard 6.5, Zubimendi 6, Rice 7 (Gyokeres 83); Madueke 7 (Saka 62, 6), Merino 8, Martinelli 6.5 (Eze 62, 5.5).
Scorers: Merino 11, Saka.
Manager: Mikel Arteta 7.
Brentford (5-3-2): Kelleher 7.5; Kayode 6.5, Ajer 6.5, Pinnock 6 (Collins 74, 6), Van den Berg 6, Henry 6 (Lewis-Potter 74, 5); Yarmoliuk 6, Janelt 6 (Henderson 60, 5.5), Jensen 6 (Damsgaard 60, 5); Ouattara 5, Schade 6 (Thiago 60, 5).
Bookings: Yarmoliuk.
Manager: Keith Andrews 6.5.
Referee: Tony Harrington 6.5.
He does not, however, boast quite the same aerial presence as those missing and Brentford took encouragement.
They came out with renewed purpose for the second half and Andrews made three changes on the hour with Thiago, Damsgaard and Henderson all on. Arteta responded by sending on Eberechi Eze and Saka.
With captain Martin Odegaard back in the team, Eze came in wide on the left and while dominating the ball, still Arsenal found it difficult to carve through Brentford’s defensive shield and extend their lead.
Caoimhim Kelleher made very good low saves from long range efforts by first Riccardo Calafiori and then Rice. Merino scrambled onto the rebound from Rice’s shot but was unable to turn it on target.
It made for anxious moments, especially with Rice forced off in the closing stages and Hincapie down for treatment after a clash of heads with Thiago.
Kelleher saved again from Calafiori and Saka should have buried the rebound but miscued it and the Bees keeper saved again. Kelleher almost kept out the goal scored by Saka. He got a good hand to it and chased back to claw it out but it had crossed the line.
Finally, a moment to breathe and enjoy the night for Arteta and Arsenal.
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