Arsenal ended a memorable week with a disappointing result as their already slim Premier League title hopes were dealt another blow in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
The Gunners headed into Saturday’s clash on a high after beating Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday.
Despite making five changes from the XI who started against Madrid, Arsenal appeared set to cut the gap to leaders Liverpool to eight points when Thomas Partey gave them a 61st-minute lead.
However, Yoane Wissa levelled matters for Brentford, whose hopes of European football next season are still alive with six games to play after a creditable point at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are 10 points behind Liverpool having played a game more, that gap meaning the Reds need three more wins to secure the title.
Arsenal v Brentford
Having failed to significantly threaten the Brentford goal in the early stages of the first half, the Gunners thought they had broken the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Kieran Tierney, making his Premier League start since May 2023, headed home from Ethan Nwaneri’s right-wing cross, however, a VAR check revealed the full-back was clearly offside.
Kristoffer Ajer produced heroics to block a Gabriel Martinelli effort that appeared destined for the net, but Brentford’s rearguard came unstuck just after the hour courtesy of a rapid Arsenal counter.
David Raya’s quick distribution set Declan Rice on his way and, after racing his way to the Brentford box, the hero of Arsenal’s midweek win over Madrid laid the ball for Partey to open the scoring with a confident finish.
But Arsenal were pegged back 13 minutes later when Nathan Collins cushioned Michael Kayode’s cross into the path of Wissa to hook home from close range after Arsenal had failed to clear a corner.
Having already made five substitutions, Arsenal were reduced to 10 men late on when Jorginho was forced off following a collision with Bryan Mbuemo.
There were few clear-cut chances for either side to win the game, with substitute Bukayo Saka fashioning the best when the Arsenal forward bent wide of the left-hand post in stoppage time.
It meant Arsenal were left to settle for a 12th draw of the season, with that tally a key reason why Mikel Arteta’s men will almost certainly end the campaign as runners-up in the Premier League for the third successive season. Only a Champions League triumph will remove the bitter taste of a runners-up finish domestically.
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