From GTECH Community Stadium – Arsenal came from behind at Brentford to start 2025 with a 3-1 win on New Year's Day.
Brian Mbeumo put the hosts ahead early, but Arsenal got back into the lead, equalizing through Gabriel Jesus just before half-time. A pair of quick strikes from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli eventually secured the three points for Arsenal against a side with the joint best home record in the division.
The result lifted Arsenal above surprise Nottingham Forest into second place, while Brentford is in the middle of a tense table.
How the game unfolded
After a largely cagey first ten minutes that were clumsily clouded in New Year's Eve, Mbeumo fired the hosts ahead with their first shot of the game.
Mikkel Damsgaard latched on to a stray pass from Martin Odegaard on the halfway line BrentfordThe talisman goes straight to Riccardo Calafiore. The Italian moved erratically back, allowing Mbomou space to cut in on his stronger left foot and pull a clear shot beyond his former team-mate David Raya.
The former Bees goalkeeper almost did his old club another favor when he allowed Keane Lewis-Potter's shot to slip through his gloves just before the half-hour mark. Raya saved his face from blushing and quickly cleared the wet ball from the goal line. There wasn't another break in play before the same wet orb found itself in Mark Flecken's net.
Thomas Partey volleyed the ball from the edge of the penalty area, parrying a let-it-all save into the path of a grateful Jesus, who headed over the Dutchman.
“Set piece again, Ollie, Ollie,” was the chant that emanated from the hubbub Arsenal away five minutes into the second half. Merino provided the finishing touch, but it was a team effort from a crowd of jostling turquoise jerseys that left Flecken dazed and confused.
The Gunners quickly established their advantage from open play. 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri sent in a devilish cross from the right wing that Brentford failed to clear, allowing the ball to fall at the feet of Martinelli who put Arsenal 3-1 ahead in the 53rd minute.
Neither side made much of an effort over the final 40 minutes, as Arsenal inflicted a fading hosts to a second successive home defeat and kept the faintest whisper of pressure on league leaders Liverpool.
Check player ratings from Brentford vs Arsenal player ratings.
When Ethan Nwaneri came out to A.J Premier League His first football match, aged just 15 years and 181 days, was at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford. Less than two-and-a-half years later, and still not old enough to vote, serve on a jury or buy fireworks for any New Year's Eve celebrations, Arteta deemed Nwaniri old enough to start a Premier League match for the first time.
A collection of sharp turns from an even sharper mind, constantly prodding the ball with his left foot like a woodpecker's beak on a piece of bark, Nwaniri embraced this historic occasion. Tormenting poor Kane Lewis-Potter – a natural winger turned wing-back by Thomas Frank and converted to left-back on Wednesday – it was the teenager's cross that led to Martinelli's goal.
Nwaneri even had his name removed from the end of the match, with Mohamed Elneny's “Twist and Shout” greeting redirected to the youngster.
In an ideal world, Arteta's lineups would be tattooed on the team sheet. But a combination of injuries, illness and indecisive rotation forced the Gunners to make an unusually high four changes from the side Won Ipswich Town 1-0 last month.
The physicality that Kai Havertz usually brings when he's not homesick, the ball often flying wide of Jesus' leaden feet. Riccardo Calafiore, the £42m summer recruit, struggled much more than fellow teenager Miles Lewis Skelly and, as always, Declan Rice's absence was conspicuous.
Thomas Partey had a thoroughly useful outing at the base of midfield, reducing if not eliminating Brentford's counter-attacking threat, but he does not offer the same energy or authority as his out-of-fit colleague.
Like Nwaniri, the 17-year-old couldn't replicate everything Bukayo Saka brought to the Arsenal team – few could, let alone a schoolboy. While Arsenal's left-footed and right-footed striker watched from afar as he recovered Hamstring surgerythe star equivalent of Brentford, has made his presence very much felt in west London.
Mbeumo bullied Calafiore while scoring the opening goal and throughout the rest of the contest. Aside from his physical talents, the Cameroon international took advantage of the Italian's concerns, looking like a starter for the first time since November. It was hovering in a pocket of uncertainty between Calafiore and Gabriel, with Mbeumo pulling in the left-back, leaving space for Mads Rorslev to press the right wing unhindered.
Arsenal's hopes of acquiring Mbeumo were dashed in January Frank's candid message To any suitor who sniffs at his player: “Good luck.”
The astonishing speed at which Martin Odegaard has returned to first-team action after two months out earlier this season looks even more impressive in hindsight. The Arsenal captain immediately picked up where he left off on his long-awaited return Against Chelseamaking the opening goal of the game.
Odegaard scored Saka's stunning goal against Nottingham Forest in his first home game back from injury before scoring the same in a 5-2 win over West Ham a week later. However, that penalty at the London Stadium in November is the last direct contribution to the goals scored by Odegaard in the Premier League.
Back at Gtech on Wednesday, every tap seemed to be misjudged, the pressure was not sharp and most passes went wide – or, as was the case in Brentford's opener – directed at the wrong player.
The sheer influx of minutes after a long spell on the bench is a simple explanation for this sluggishness – one that only appears in light of his impeccable level of performance. But with Saka still out and so many key games on the horizon, there are not many clear opportunities for Odegaard to earn some much-needed rest.
