Arsenal stay in control of title race
Arsenal beat Brentford 2–0 thanks to goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka in a calm, controlled win at the Emirates. No chaos, no drama, just three points that kept the Gunners on top of the Premier League.
Fast start and a perfect header
With big games against Tottenham, Bayern and Chelsea recently, Mikel Arteta rested Saka, Jurriën Timber and Eberechi Eze. The changes worked.
After just 11 minutes, Noni Madueke combined with Ben White down the right. White crossed and Merino powered in a header for his second goal in two matches. Since moving up to cover for injured Viktor Gyökeres, he has become an unlikely scorer.
Brentford almost hit back
Arsenal controlled the ball, with Madueke forcing a good save from Caoimhín Kelleher. But Brentford came close.
David Raya tipped Kevin Schade’s header onto the bar, denying his former club a shock equaliser.
Arsenal pushed again. White burst into the box before Gabriel Martinelli fired over. Then a setback: defender Cristhian Mosquera limped off, adding to injuries in the back line.
Big changes, same result
Brentford made bold substitutions, bringing on Igor Thiago, Jordan Henderson and Mikkel Damsgaard. Arteta answered with Saka and Eze.
Kelleher made two smart saves from Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice. Rice, exhausted, came off for Gyökeres as Merino dropped back into midfield.
Saka finishes the job
The match was finally done in stoppage time.
Saka struck a shot that Kelleher touched but couldn’t stop, looping into the net to make it 2–0.
Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches, with eight straight home wins, another clean sheet, and a five-point lead at the top of the table. Business as usual.
