Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback, ultimately securing a 3-1 victory against Brentford in their first Premier League match of 2025.
The Gunners quickly found themselves on the back foot when Bryan Mbeumo broke free on the right just 13 minutes into the game.
He skillfully cut inside Riccardo Calafiori and managed to sneak a shot past David Raya at his near post, granting Brentford an early lead.
Shortly after, Brentford nearly doubled their advantage; however, a fantastic reflex save from Raya kept Arsenal in contention.
This crucial moment proved pivotal, as the Gunners equalized just a minute later, shifting the dynamics of the match.
Mark Flekken made a strong save, but the ball ricocheted into the path of Gabriel Jesus, who dove to head it home, leveling the score.
The momentum shifted dramatically five minutes after halftime, igniting Arsenal’s resurgence.
A corner kick led to defensive confusion for Brentford. Consequently, Flekken misjudged a loose ball, allowing Mikel Merino to pounce.
He expertly converted the chance, placing Arsenal in the lead.
Just two minutes later, the Gunners continued to apply pressure, seeking to extend their lead.
Arsenal struck again.
On his first Premier League start, Ethan Nwaneri delivered a cross from the right that the Brentford defense failed to clear.
Gabriel Martinelli capitalized on the mistake, arcing a stunning volley into the net to extend Arsenal’s lead.
Related Posts
Arsenal’s two quick goals enabled them to reclaim their spot in the league’s top two.
Consequently, they surpassed Nottingham Forest and narrowed the gap to six points behind league leaders Liverpool, who maintain a game in hand.
Moreover, this victory represented a significant milestone for Gabriel Jesus.
With this win, he extended his remarkable record to 62 consecutive Premier League matches without a loss whenever he scores.
Meanwhile, Brentford remains in 12th place in the standings.
Brentford has demonstrated remarkable resilience over the past 18 months, showing no signs of struggling without Ivan Toney’s goals.
After serving a lengthy ban last season, Toney departed for Saudi Arabia last summer.
Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo has risen to the occasion, consistently stepping up to fill the void.
In their New Year’s Day clash against Arsenal, Mbeumo scored again, further enhancing his impressive statistics.
Notably, since the 2022-23 season, only seven players have recorded more Premier League goal involvements than Mbeumo, totaling 45.
