Importance Score: 25 / 100 🔵
Arsenal Held to Draw by Brentford at Emirates Stadium
Arsenal and Brentford concluded their Premier League encounter in a 1-1 stalemate at the Emirates Stadium, a result that transpired as Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta opted for squad rotation with an eye on their upcoming crucial Champions League fixture against Real Madrid next week. The match saw a reshuffled Arsenal lineup take the field.
Midfielder Thomas Partey appeared to have secured victory for Arsenal, netting a goal that reflected their dominance in the match. However, Brentford’s striker Yoane Wissa proved to be a threat inside the penalty area, equalising with a sharp turn and strike past Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya, ensuring the points were shared. Notably, only six players who started in Arsenal’s previous triumph against Real Madrid were in the first eleven for this game. Despite Arteta introducing key players from the bench in the second half, the home side couldn’t reclaim the lead.
Arsenal Player Ratings vs Brentford (4-3-3 Formation)
Goalkeeper
David Raya: 7/10
- Showcased excellent distribution skills, initiating the counter-attack that led to Arsenal’s opening goal with a precise roll-out.
- However, his positioning was questionable during Wissa’s equalising goal.
Defenders
Thomas Partey: 7/10 (Substituted for Timber, 69th minute)
- Scored a powerful goal to cap off a second-half counter-attacking move.
- Maintained a relatively subdued presence for the majority of the match before his goal.
William Saliba: 8/10
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- Effectively managed the speed of Brentford’s Kevin Schade and won their physical duels.
- Displayed impressive ball control, consistently bringing the ball out from defence and rarely misplacing passes.
- Delivered an excellent long pass to Gabriel Martinelli, creating a significant opportunity.
- Regrettably, he lost a header at the back post in the build-up to Brentford’s equaliser, a mistake that proved costly.
Jakub Kiwior: 5/10
- Appeared less commanding physically and technically compared to his central defence partner, Saliba.
Midfielders
Kieran Tierney: 7/10 (Substituted for Lewis-Skelly, 62nd minute)
- Believed he had scored his first goal in nearly two years with a first-half header, but the goal was nullified by a VAR offside decision.
- Made a crucial tackle to deny Bryan Mbeumo in a dangerous attacking position.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7/10 (Substituted for Odegaard, 62nd minute)
- Demonstrated moments of quality in midfield.
- Played an incisive reverse pass to find Ethan Nwaneri.
Jorginho: 6/10
- Delivered a characteristically composed but understated performance in midfield.
- Forced off late in the game due to a fall, after Arsenal had used all permitted substitutions.
Declan Rice: 7/10 (Substituted for Merino, 76th minute)
- Seemed somewhat frustrated until his pivotal contribution in the 61st minute.
- Initiated the attack for Arsenal’s goal by receiving the ball from Raya, driving forward, and providing a well-weighted pass to Partey.
Ethan Nwaneri: 7/10 (Substituted for Saka, 62nd minute)
- His corner kicks posed a threat to Brentford’s defence.
- Delivered an excellent corner that Tierney headed into the net, although it was subsequently disallowed for offside.
Forwards
Leandro Trossard: 5/10
- Lacked significant impact in the attacking third.
- Forced a save from Flekken with a firm shot from distance but also missed a clear headed chance from close range.
Gabriel Martinelli: 6/10
- Largely contained by Brentford’s defensive setup.
Substitutes
Martin Odegaard: 6/10
- Made a determined effort to influence the game’s flow but could not alter the scoreline.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: 6/10
- Injected his usual high-energy play into the match.
Bukayo Saka: 5/10
- Had a golden opportunity after dispossessing Flekken and rounding the keeper late on, however, failed to convert.
Jurrien Timber: 6/10
- Had a quiet period on the pitch after coming on.
Mikel Merino: N/A
- Introduced late in the game, played too briefly to be fairly assessed.