By Adenike Lawal
Arsenal narrowed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to six points with a commanding 3-1 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on January 1, 2025.
Gabriel Jesus starred with a crucial equalizer, extending his scoring streak to six goals in four matches.
Brentford struck first in the 13th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Martin Ødegaard.
Bryan Mbeumo slotted home from a Mikkel Damsgaard pass, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya beaten at his near post.
Despite early pressure, Arsenal rallied to level the score in the 29th minute.
Thomas Partey’s powerful shot was parried by Mark Flekken, but Jesus reacted swiftly to head home from close range.
After the break, Arsenal dominated with two quick goals.
Mikel Merino punished Flekken’s handling error from a corner to put Arsenal ahead, and Gabriel Martinelli added a third shortly after, finishing a smart cutback from Ethan Nwaneri.
The win propelled Arsenal to second place, overtaking Nottingham Forest and extending their unbeaten streak to 12 games in all competitions.
Despite the absence of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, Arsenal’s depth and resilience shone through, solidifying their position in the title race.
