LONDON — Much-changed Arsenal saw their faint Premier League title hopes grow even dimmer after blowing a lead in a 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.
WATCH – Arsenal v Brentford full match replay
Arsenal hosted Brentford knowing a win would momentarily cut Liverpool’s lead atop the table to eight points, and looked set to do so when Thomas Partey took a Declan Rice-led rush and drove it past Mark Flekken.
But Wissa’s technical, acrobatic equalizer pushed the Bees level and Arsenal subs Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and friends could not deliver a second goal to deliver another win on the heels of a beautiful midweek UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid.
MORE — How did Mikel Arteta respond to blown lead, draw?
The Gunners finish the day 10 points back of Liverpool, and Arsenal only have 18 more available to them this season. Brentford are 11th with 43 points, above Crystal Palace on goal differential.
Arteta’s weakened-Arsenal comes up short (and that’s fine)
There was a danger that Arsenal would struggle to find their passion levels on the heels of their big win over Real Madrid, but that wasn’t the issue here. Arsenal showed up and nearly scored early from surprise starter Kieran Tierney (the new semi-automated offside found him so). The front-three wasn’t great, no, and perhaps that’s why a 14-3 shots edge and 0.82-0.19 wasn’t enough to put a notch in the win column. And Jorginho’s late injury underscored why Arteta made the changes he made — to avoid putting any risk to more important players being available for Real. Arsenal weren’t catching Liverpool, but they had a game to play and could’ve easily won it. Now they need to make this relative sacrifice worth it come midweek.
Arsenal vs Brentford player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Brentford player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Brentford player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Arsenal go to Real Madrid for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg at 3pm ET Wednesday, then visit Ipswich Town at 9am Sunday, April 20.
Brentford host Brighton at 10am ET Saturday.
How to watch Arsenal vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (April 12)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com and on Peacock
Arsenal vs Brentford final score: 1-1
Thomas Partey 61', Yoane Wissa 74'
Arsenal vs Brentford live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright at Emirates Stadium
Yoane Wissa goal — Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
We’re level against and there’s still more than a quarter-hour to play.
Michael Kayode’s cross and knocked down by Nathan Collins at the back post, and Yoane Wissa does swell to get the ball and hit a spinning shot past David Raya.
1-1, 74'.
Saka, Lewis-Skelly and Odegaard are on
Triple sub for Arsenal as Zinchenko, Tierney and Nwaneri are off with Saka, Odegaard and Lewis-Skelly on. Perfect timing to come on and see out the victory.
Partey finishes on the counter! — Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
What a brilliant counter. Raya rolls it to Rice who charges towards goal and waits for the perfect moment to slot in Thomas Partey who smashes home. Arsenal get the opener they deserve and are warming up nicely for Madrid. Party atmosphere (pardon the pun) here at the Emirates. The home fans are loving it.
Mbeumo denied on the break
Mbeumo speeds away on the counter but Tierney stops him in the box and clears for a corner. That’s more like it from the Bees.
Rice has a free kick way out on the left...
There is no way he’s going to shoot from there but the Arsenal fans are urging him to! Why not after Tuesday? Declan Rice does play it short and then curls it in but Brentford clear. He’s building himself up towards another belter. I can feel it.
Brentford better at the start of the second half
Thomas Frank will have been a little disappointed with that first half but they look better already. Mbeumo is causing problems centrally and they are whipping in some crosses.
Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
It has been all Arsenal in the first half with Tierney’s header ruled out for offside, while the Gunners have gone close on a few more occasions through Trossard and Rice. Brentford have had one decent effort through Ajer which was saved but the Bees yet to really get going. Compared to the midweek win against Real Madrid here it has all been a bit subdued. So far.
Trossard’s shot saved by Flekken
Nice hit from Trossard from outside the box but Flekken saves well down low. Arsenal pushing for this opener and the home fans yelling “shoooooot” every time Rice gets the ball...!
Driving run from Rice ends in Flekken saving
Lovely run from Rice into the box and his low shot is saved well down low by Flekken. Brentford then clear for a corner.
What a block from Ajer!
Saliba plays a great ball over the top to and after a lovely first touch Martinelli is in but Ajer is covering superbly to block what seemed like a certain goal.
Zinchenko’s shot saved
Arsenal really on top of Brentford now and Zinchenko’s low shot is pushed wide by Flekken. Sustained pressure from the Gunners and Nwaneri is at the heart of it as he keeps cutting inside and is causing chaos.
Norgaard catches Martinelli
Brentford skipper Norgaard is booked for a lunging tackle on Martinelli. He didn’t get the ball and was committed but that is probably not a red card. The home fans aren’t happy and Martinelli eventually is okay and is up and running about.
Tierney heads home, but he’s offside
Lovely cross from Nwaneri and Tierney is up there and heads home, but he’s offside. Semi-automated offside technology working well. Much quicker.
Raya denies Ajer
Brentford are in down the left and right back Ajer is galloping forward. Mbeumo finds him but his low shot, which was rather tame, is saved by Raya. Brentford boss Thomas Frank puts his hands to his head. He knows that was a big chance.
Flekken denies Martinelli
First big chance for Arsenal as Martinelli is played in down the left and he dinks it towards goal. But Flekken is there to deflect it wide for a corner. A clever short corner sees Partey in around the back but his header back across goal is eventually gathered by Flekken.
Rice is practicing his free kicks
In the warm ups here at the Emirates Declan Rice is curling free kicks towards the top corner from the spot where he spanked home his second against Real Madrid in midweek. Why not!? He curled a few just over but he’s absolutely still on free kicks.
Beautiful day here in north London!
Welcome to the Emirates on a gorgeous day here in north London. Arsenal fans are walking towards the ground with a skip in their step after that huge win against Real Madrid in midweek. Lots of fans enjoying lunch and a drink in the sunshine in the bars and restaurants around the stadium. It’s all very lovely and relaxed.
☀️🙌❤️ Beautiful day here in north London for Arsenal vs Brentford!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 12, 2025
WATCH + live analysis, videos and more ➡️ https://t.co/m1qEAFRaG8 #AFC #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/aoT1SBXsx2
Arsenal lineup
Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Jorginho, Zinchenko, Rice; Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli
Brentford lineup
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade
Arsenal team news, focus
It’s likely that the trio of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are all rested after suffering a few knocks during the midweek win against Real Madrid. It’s also likely that William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly will be rested too and that means Ben White could start at center back with Thomas Partey perhaps at right back and one of Kieran Tierney or Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back. Ethan Nwaneri is likely to start in Saka’s place, while Trossard and Jorginho should come into the team too.
OUT: Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring - MORE), Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Kai Havertz (hamstring - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (torn ACL - out for season), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)
Brentford team news, focus
Brentford have slowly been getting key players back from injury and that is a big help. We know the forward trio of Schade, Mbeumo and Wissa cause so many problems and if Arsenal take their foot off the gas then Brentford will be there to punish them.
OUT: Fabio Carvalho (shoulder), Igor Thiago (knee), Josh Dasilva (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Aaron Hickey (thigh), Gustavo Nunes (back)
Arsenal vs Brentford prediction
Even if they make a lot of changes you would still expect Arsenal to get the win and manage the game. It will be narrow. Arsenal 2-1 Brentford.
Arsenal vs Brentford preview
The Gunners will still be flying high after their 3-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday. And it could have easily been more. With the second leg in Madrid on Wednesday in mind, it’s likely Mikel Arteta will rotate his squad as both Bukayo Saka and (free kick extraordinaire) Declan Rice came off late in the win against Madrid. Arsenal know their hopes of winning the title are extremely slim and their main aim is now Champions League glory.
Brentford drew 0-0 at home against Chelsea last weekend and have hit a bit of a rough patch with one win in their last five games in the Premier League as their chances of qualifying for Europe seem slim. Thomas Frank has still overseen another extremely solid season and their attacking talents always look so dangerous. The Bees always seem like they can cause an upset.
