Brentford 1-3 Arsenal: Gunners blow Bees away with devastating second-half display to close gap on leaders Liverpool
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Arsenal produced a rip-roaring second-half performance to inflict a rare home defeat on Brentford and move within six points of the Premier League summit. The Gunners were looking to make it three victories on the spin in the league and close the gap on leaders Liverpool, while Thomas Frank's men aimed to end a three-match winless run.
![[Gabriel Jesus found the net in consecutive games for the Gunners for the first time since 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/19/93652003-14241949-image-a-2_1735758485372.jpg)
And it was the hosts who drew first blood, scoring their 27th goal at the Gtech Community Stadium of a fine home season. Bryan Mbeumo drifted in from the right and looked to be looping one into the far corner but wrong-footed former Bees keeper David Raya with a stabbed finish to the near post.
![[Arsenal shot into the lead with a Mikel Merino strike following another set-piece routine]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/19/93652571-14241949-image-a-3_1735758553235.jpg)
Arsenal had more of the ball but Brentford looked up for it and were being roared on by a raucous crowd hoping for another scalp against Mikel Arteta's men. The bubble was burst when Thomas Partey unleashed a fierce effort from 25 yards following some pinball on the edge of the box. Mark Flekken made the stop but Gabriel Jesus showed his poacher's instinct and followed it in.
![[Gabriel Martinelli grabbed a confidence-boosting goal to send the travelling fans ballistic]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/19/93652569-14241949-image-a-4_1735758574402.jpg)
Bryan Mbeumo scored his ninth home goal with a fine finish from the right-hand side. Gabriel Jesus found the net in consecutive games for the Gunners for the first time since 2023. Arsenal shot into the lead with a Mikel Merino strike following another set-piece routine.
Gabriel Martinelli grabbed a confidence-boosting goal to send the travelling fans ballistic. Just 30 seconds earlier, Raya had made a hash of a save and almost fell into his own net along with the ball, but just managed to claw it to safety off the line.
