Arsenal dropped more points in the Premier League title race on Saturday as it drew 1-1 against Brentford.
The result continues the Gunners‘ disappointing end to the campaign with the side sitting second in the table slipping up for the fifth time in the last seven.
It means Liverpool needs just nine more points to be confirmed as the 2024/25 Premier League champions. Wins against West Ham United, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the next 15 days will secure a record-breaking 20th top-flight title for the Reds, but it could even be wrapped up next week.
Defeat for Arsenal next Sunday against Ipswich, coupled with Liverpool wins over West Ham and Leicester in the next two would guarantee the Reds top spot. There’s also a chance another slip up for the Gunners against Crystal Palace on Wednesday 23 April would finish off the title race – that game falls in between Liverpool’s encounters against Leicester and Spurs on 20 and 27 April.
Arsenal’s priorities lie away from the Premier League and that showed in Mikel Arteta’s line-up against Brentford. He rested five players for Saturday’s match at the Emirates, which falls in between the Champions League double header against Real Madrid, with Jurrien Timber, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino all dropping to the bench.
YThat impacted Arsenal’s rhythm, with a lack of clear-cut chances in the first 45 minutes. Kieran Tierney did net in the first half, only for it to be ruled out for offside. But in the second period, boosted by the introductions of Saka and Odegaard, the Gunners carried more of a threat.
Thomas Partey netted the opener just after the hour mark when he capitalized on some slack Brentford defending and ended a quick Arsenal counter with smart finish at the near post. But the opposition responded via Yoane Wissa, as he twisted and fired past his former teammate David Raya late on.
It was a setback that Arsenal failed to recover from and, if anything, the Bees ended the game on top. There was a further blow to the Gunners as it ended with 10 men. Jorginho was replaced late on after landing awkwardly when competing for a header and Arteta had already made all five changes. Given Jorginho’s contract expires this summer, there’s every chance the ex-Chelsea man has played his final game for Arsenal.
Ben White also added his name to Arsenal’s extensive list of injuries. He missed the Brentford match and Arteta confirmed that was due to a training injury.
