MY ACCOUNT
Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka were on target as Arsenal made it back-to-back Premier League wins with a 2-1 success over Brentford.
Smith Rowe took his tally for the season to 10 in all competitions with a fine individual effort in the 48th minute at Emirates Stadium.
And Saka secured the points for Mikel Arteta’s side when he drilled home with 11 minutes remaining, before Christian Norgaard’s consolation in the dying moments.
While the Gunners remain sixth in the table, they closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester United to a single point and still have two games in hand.
Arsenal, unbeaten in their previous 32 home Premier League games against promoted sides, dominated from the start, with Saka’s deflected strike testing David Raya before Alexandre Lacazette rounded off a neat move, only to be denied an opener by the offside flag.
Martin Odegaard had a shot blocked and Ben White volleyed at Raya as the hosts enjoyed 80.1 per cent of the possession during the first half, but a goal eluded them.
However, the breakthrough did arrive three minutes after the restart. Lacazette found Smith Rowe, who cut inside from the left before sweeping a low shot into the far corner.
Raya got down well to keep out Saka from distance as Arsenal went in search of a second, while the Spaniard also produced smart reflexes to deny Odegaard following Pontus Jansson’s loose header.
But Raya was powerless as the Gunners put the result beyond doubt – Thomas Partey feeding Saka, who arrowed a powerful shot in off the far post.
Brentford pulled one back through Norgaard deep into stoppage time; the Denmark international becoming only the second player for a promoted club to score home and away against Arsenal, but it was always likely to prove a consolation.
What does it mean? Persistence pays off for the Gunners
Arsenal registered 16 shots on target during the first half; the most by any Premier League team without scoring since Chelsea mustered 17 against Brighton and Hove Albion in September 2019.
However, they finally made the breakthrough after the restart; meaning Brentford become the ninth successive side to lose on their first Premier League visit to the Emirates.
Double figures for Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe continued to impress for the Gunners, scoring his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.
He had two shots in total, and finished the match with an 85 per cent passing accuracy, completing 34 of 40 passes in total.
Saka shines
Another academy graduate sealed the deal for Arsenal, with Saka taking his tally for the campaign to eight with a lovely strike.
The forward carried a great threat throughout the contest; registering game-high tallies of six shots and three on target. Meanwhile, only Cedric (16) delivered more crosses during the match (seven).
Key Opta facts
– Arsenal netted their 600th (and 601st) Premier League goal in games played at Emirates Stadium, hitting that milestone in their 297th such game. Only Manchester United at Old Trafford (283 games) and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium (290) have reached 600 goals at a single stadium in fewer games in the competition.
– Brentford are winless in their last seven league games, last having a longer run between September and October 2018 (8 games). The Bees have also lost their last five away league games, their longest such run since February 2011 (5).
– Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League home games kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday (W24 D5), last losing such a game on the opening day of the 2013-14 season against Aston Villa.
– Smith Rowe netted his ninth Premier League goal this season; the only player to score more in a single campaign in the competition for Arsenal when aged 21 or younger was Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99 (17). Raheem Sterling (10) is the only English player with more Premier League goals this season than Smith Rowe.
– Saka registered his 11th goal involvement in the Premier League this season (7 goals, 4 assists), the most of any under-21 player and a haul bettered only by Jarrod Bowen (16), Mason Mount (13) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (12) among English players.
What’s next?
A rejuvenated Arsenal look to make it three wins on the bounce when they host Wolves on Thursday, while Brentford host Newcastle United in a huge game at the bottom next Saturday.
