Slipping up against Brentford, Arsenal feels the heat from Man City in the title race

Despite taking the lead through Noni Madueke, Arsenal still had to accept a tough 1-1 draw against Brentford, reducing their margin over Man City in the title chase.

The late match of Premier League Round 26 in the 2025/2026 season between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium unfolded with a highly intense scenario. Facing pressure from Manchester City, who had just beaten Fulham to close in on the top spot, Mikel Arteta’s squad traveled to the "Bees" aiming for a must-win to extend their lead.

Although controlling possession up to 60%, Arsenal struggled greatly against Brentford’s relentless pressing and disciplined defensive setup. The absence of Kai Havertz due to injury left Arsenal’s attack lacking a key link, even though Viktor Gyokeres returned to the starting lineup.

During the first 45 minutes, Arsenal’s expected goals (xG) were a modest 0.12. In fact, without a brilliant save from goalkeeper David Raya in the 22nd minute following Igor Thiago’s header, Arsenal’s net would have been shaken early on.

After the break, Arsenal increased their tempo and finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Defender Piero Hincapie delivered an accurate cross from the left flank, allowing newcomer Noni Madueke to leap and head powerfully past goalkeeper Kelleher. This was Madueke’s 15th goal of the season, easing Arsenal’s heavy psychological pressure.

However, the visitors’ joy was short-lived. In the 71st minute, Brentford equalized using Arsenal’s own specialty: set pieces. From a strong throw-in by Michael Kayode, Sepp van den Berg cleverly headed the ball on for Keane Lewis-Potter to finish close-range, leveling the score at 1-1 to the surprise of Arsenal’s defense.

In the final 20 minutes, the match turned into a fiery back-and-forth battle. In the 88th minute, Arsenal held their breath when Igor Thiago faced the goalkeeper, but young center-back Cristhian Mosquera made a spectacular slide tackle to deny him right at the striker’s feet. On the other end, Arsenal had a chance to decide the game in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, but Gabriel Martinelli’s shot was blocked by goalkeeper Kelleher.

The 1-1 draw means Arsenal remain top but their lead over Manchester City is now just 3 points. Meanwhile, Brentford earned a valuable point as a deserved reward for their resilient fighting spirit, helping them maintain their status as one of the toughest obstacles in this Premier League season.