Brentford battle but are beaten by Arsenal
Arsenal 2Merino (11′)
Saka (90’+1)
Brentford 0
Bakayo Saka’s late goal sealed a win for Arsenal against Brentford at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Merino netted an early goal for the Premier League leaders and Ealing man Saka scored in stoppage time.
The Bees battled well in north London – where boss Keith Andrews left captain Nathan Collins, Jordan Henderson, Mikkel Damsgaard and Igor Thiago on the substitutes’ bench.
Brentford, seeking their first win at Arsenal since 1938, were opened up in the 11th minute when the Gunners took the lead.
Noni Madueke played Ben White into space and the defender’s cross was nodded home from close range by Merino.
The visitors responded positively and were unlucky not to level on 20 minutes in what was their best chance of the evening.
Former Brentford goalkeeper David Raya was on hand to tip a Kevin Schade header onto the crossbar, following a dangerous corner by Vitaly Janelt.
Arsenal, though, enjoyed a very fluid first half, and Brentford defenders Sepp van den Berg and Ethan Pinnock were forced into considerable last-ditch defensive work to prevent the hosts doubling their lead.
Brentford were more assertive at the start of the second period but largely failed to trouble Raya.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori forced visiting keeper Caoimhin Kelleher into smart, instinctive saves.
Saka made the points safe for his team when he fastened on to a through pass by Martin Odegaard, and Kelleher failed to hold his left-footed shot, with the ball dropping into the net.
Brentford: Kelleher, Ajer, Pinnock (Collins 73), Van Den Berg, Kayode, Yarmoliuk, Janelt (Henderson 60), Henry (Lewis-Potter 73), Jensen (Damsgaard 60), Ouatarra, Schade (Thiago 60)
