Arsenal delivered another confident performance, defeating Brentford to restore their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League. The breakthrough came early: in the 11th minute Ben White burst down the flank and squared the ball to Mikel Merino, who once again started up front due to injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Viktor Gyökeres. The Spaniard fired in his 13th goal of the season, and just before the break he added an assist, setting up Bukayo Saka, whose strike found its way into the net despite Caoimhín Kelleher’s desperate effort.

Arsenal controlled the tempo throughout, though Brentford nearly struck back when Kevin Schade rattled the crossbar with a header from a corner. The win was somewhat overshadowed by injuries to Mikel Arteta’s key players Moscera and Rice, both forced off prematurely.

Still, the victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 18 matches and marked their eighth straight home win.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Arsenal - Brentford 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: Merino, 11 (1:0); Saka B., 91 (2:0)

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera Cr. (Timber J., 44); White B.; Hincapie; Calafiori; Zubimendi; Odegaard; Merino; Rice (Gyökeres, 83); Madueke (Saka B., 61); Martinelli (Eze, 61)
Substitution: Timber J. (from 44); Saka B. (from 61); Eze (from 61); Gyökeres (from 83)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard; Nwaneri; Gabriel Jesus

Brentford: Kelleher; Henry R. (Lewis-Potter, 74); van den Berg S.; Pinnock (Collins N., 74); Ajer; Kayode M.; Jensen Ma. (Damsgaard M., 61); Yarmoliuk; Janelt (Henderson, 61); Schade (Thiago I., 60); Ouattara Da.
Substitution: Thiago I. (from 60); Henderson (from 61); Damsgaard M. (from 61); Collins N. (from 74); Lewis-Potter (from 74)
Bench: Valdimarsson H.R,; Arthur; Onyeka; Donovan
Yellow Cards: Yarmoliuk 65