Arsenal won a tense London derby with an early strike by goal machine Mikel Merino supplemented in the first minute of added time with a finish by Bukayo Saka after that man Merino had played him through. Arsenal had reason to be grateful to a spellbinding save by David Raya in the first half after Schade had risen above the defence to head a right wing corner goalwards. The fingertip save that diverted the ball onto the bar underlined the value of a brilliant goalkeeper and contrasted with the rather tame concession last night from Raya’s predecessor Aaron Ramsdale (albeit it that he was unsighted by his defenders) at St.James Park.
Strikers with the sort of goal instincts Merino has developed win matches but saves of the quality of Raya’s tonight stop you from dropping valuable points. Raya is a truly magnificent goalkeeper now. The only clouds for Arsenal from the evening’s proceedings were firstly an injury to Mosquera just before half-time (he was taken off immediately with Jurrien Timber replacing him in his international position of centre back). More worryingly, Declan Rice left proceedings with a calf injury seven minutes from time. We must keep our fingers crossed for Declan who was his usual industrious self tonight.
Mikel Arteta made three changes from the weekend draw at Chelsea with White, Madueke and Ødegaard starting and Brentford left out two of their bigger beasts, Igor Thiago and Jordan Henderson who were both on the bench.
Arsenal began confidently making frequent use of Madueke’s pace and trickery down the right. It was good to see Ben White back and he was much more effective than in his last start against Olympiacos. Madueke almost breached the Brentford defence with some nice footwork and Arsenal’s main concern came from a couple of long throws from Brentford’s wily midfielder Kayode. Wily Kayode – see what I did there!
We did not have long to wait for an Arsenal breakthrough. Ten minutes had elapsed when Madueke freed White with a deft piece of footwork and Benny Blanco’s neat cross found Merino at the near post and he headed the ball into the ground and past Kelleher.
Arsenal 1 Brentford 0 – Merino, 10.
If any Gooners envisaged an easy night after this it did not pan out that way. Despite Arsenal moving fluently at times and stretching Brentford’s five man defence, the West London side were resilient and organised and troubled Arsenal intermittently on the break. It was noticeable that Schade beat Mosquera repeatedly in the air, but little danger emanated from it, and he showed his aerial ability on 20 minutes with a flashing header from a right wing corner which Raya finger-tipped onto the bar. He made a similarly brilliant save from Podence in the Olympiacos game showing reflexes of incredible sharpness.
Declan Rice almost set up Madueke for a second goal with a fine pass from the left across goal in the 39th minute. Madueke’s effort was foiled by Rico Henry’s last ditch challenge. Calafiori was popping up in some incredible places, he is rewriting the playbook for full back play but he adds a spectacular dimension to Arsenal’s forward movement. He and White were both playing very effectively but Arsenal suffered a blow 4 minutes from half-time when Mosquera landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge and had to be substituted and was replaced by Timber.
Half-time – Arsenal 1 Brentford 0
The first 15 minutes of the second half were not reassuring for Arsenal fans as the team seemed to be labouring a little and Brentford forced a number of set pieces without really troubling Raya. We anticipated change and it came on the hour . They brought on Thiago, Henderson and Damsgaard who they had presumably kept in reserve for the greater challenge of Tottnumb at the weekend. Arsenal added Saka and Eze and without dominating were able to hold Brentford at bay. Rice and Calafiori brought full length saves from Kelleher but then in the 83rd minute we had the biggest scare of the night when Rice had to leave the pitch, apparently with a calf injury. We would very much like to have him available for Villa on Saturday but that looks doubtful (Declan said post-match that he’ll be fit for Villa – Ed.).
Gyökeres replaced him with Merino moving into midfield and it was the Spaniard who found Saka in space as the game moved into added time. He checked back deceiving the Brentford defence and Kelleher could not prevent his fierce drive from crossing the line.
Arsenal 2 Brentford 0 – Saka 90+1
Arsenal played out the remaining time without alarm and pocketed another three points on a night where there were some surprise results around the country. Arsenal look imperious in football terms but they must look very carefully at the rate of muscle injuries they are sustaining throughout the squad. We have the strongest squad we have ever had but seem determined to use every man jack of them.
Tonight I was delighted to see Ben White return so effectively and I also thought Calafiori was terrific. Ødegaard was his usual industrious self but looked like he needed the game to help him re-orientate to Premier League football. The challenges keep coming. We face Villa at midday on Saturday, another side moving ominously into form. Let us pray Declan and Saliba will be with us!
Full time – Arsenal 2 Brentford 0
Very much the game I saw, too, TTG. We take the three points and hurry on to Villa Park.
Thanks for the quick and accurate report TTG, you’ve covered everything well and Ed. has provided a reassuring update on Declan. Good to get the 90 minutes into Martin and Benjamin, good to keep a clean sheet, good to take the three points with minimal fuss.
The difference between ourselves and the current Chavs seems clear enough now – we play out a tough energy sapping draw on Sunday and then The Arsenal win on Wednesday, the Chavs don’t turn up and lose. C130y were lucky on Saturday and nearly threw the points away at Fulham but still it’s 6/6 for them and they are our only real challengers to me.
Until they are relegated and have 50 points a season deducted for the next 10 years.
Wily Kayode- Genius!
Very much the game I saw. The ground was curiously quiet I thought. I blame C100 for not being there. Get well soon, Sir. .
OM@2- excellent point re the Chaves. They went all in on Sunday. When that isn’t ish off, they were spent. Despite all that money, and a bench with a population only slightly lower than Luxembourg, they still can’t play 2 games a week. Pitiful.
“When that didn’t pay off”. Apologies for lack of editing before posting.
Thanks for a swift and accurate account of a game of two halves, TTG.
In the first half we played well, ran the game, penned Brentford in and really should have been two or three goals ahead by half time. But for Schade’s header that brought out a superb save from Raya, Brentford provided no real threat on his goal all night. In the second half the effect of the weight of recent games played began to tell and a lot of players began to look leggy. Nonetheless we had several chances to score that were well saved in the second half despite allowing Brentford a lot of the ball and defending multiple corners and long throws and we really should have sealed the game before Saka ultimately calmed the crowd’s nerves in added time. Job done. Get the lads into the massage room.
On to the Villa.
Cheers TTG. Fingers crossed for our walking woundeds.
The only worry out of a routine-ish win.
A message from Willow. The link is here.
Road Runner pace on delivery of your report there, TTG.
A very pleasing outcome from a game that only inspired very occasionally. There were times in the game when I was amazed by the skill level that enabled our team to thread passes completely comfortably through the tiniest of needle-eyed spaces.
I think Madueki may one day be a very good footballer. I do hope that he receives regular one-on-one coaching from MA8 on his potential journey to the stars. The opportunity that you mentioned “Madueke’s effort was foiled by Rico Henry’s last ditch challenge” looked from the far end of the stadium to be one that should definitely have hit the back of the net – however, it didn’t have enough thrill value to qualify for MOTD highlights so I’m unable to judge on a second look.
On to Villa. I hope most sincerely that we take them apart.
P.S. TTG, I’m happy to report that I left your seat in Emirates Heaven comfortably warm for your return (in that regard I must acknowledge the considerable contribution provided by Pappagone’s pasta fuel).
Wrong sport for the bar I know but just to say I was very happy
for Joe Root today
TTG – thank you, Sir, for a swift and mostly fair report !
I very much liked Wily Kayode. “Mostly fair” is awarded only because you referred to Tottenham at the weekend as “the greater challenge” for Brentford. I beg your flaming pardon !
Great to see Ben White looking his old self again. Timber looks at home at centre back if needs be. Mikel Merino must be one of the most underrated players in the Premier League . I read today he has 30 goal involvements – I.e. goals and assists in 2025. I assume but haven’t checked that includes his international involvements too. What a bargain at £35m ?
CER – I wish Chelsea would ish off !
Trev@11
Surely you recognise supreme irony .
If you are Brentford the Spuds are the team you put your best team out for. They knew they would struggle to get anything against us
TTG – of course, but it was worth a wind up 😉
BtM @9, to review Madueke’s chance, check out the 6 minutes of highlights provided by MotD on BBC I-player. You’ll see the last minute tackle that thwarted him. Saka’s feeble effort on the rebound from Merino’s shot is much more worthy of criticism.
Cracker from Coach Mike
https://gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2025/12/04/the-kings-of-the-ignored/
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>