Arsenal started 2025 with a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Brentford, moving to second in the Premier League. Key goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli kept their title hopes alive.
Introduction:
Arsenal marked the New Year in style by claiming a 3-1 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. The result on January 1 catapulted the Gunners to second position in the Premier League, and their title aspirations were still very much alive.
A Shaky Start for Arsenal

The match got off to a tricky start for Arsenal as Bryan Mbeumo stunned them to lead Brentford after 13 minutes. Having stolen the ball off Martin Odegaard, Mikkel Damsgaard stripped the Arsenal captain and assisted Mbeumo to fire it past David Raya at the near post. That was Mbeumo’s 11th league goal this season, another consistent display by the Bees man. See also: Kai Havertz Shines as Arsenal Overcome Ipswich 1-0
Brentford continued to push forward, and Arsenal had a near-miss when Raya almost mishandled Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot. However, Raya’s quick reflexes kept the ball from crossing the line, a moment that proved to be pivotal.

Gabriel Jesus Levels the Score
Arsenal responded with a decisive manner, as Gabriel Jesus equalized in the 28th minute. Thomas Partey’s powerful strike from outside the box was parried by Brentford’s goalkeeper Mark Flekken, only for Jesus to head the rebound into the net. This marked the Brazilian’s sixth goal in four matches across all competitions, underlining his current red-hot form. See also: Bukayo Saka Inspires Arsenal to 3-0 Champions League Glory Over Monaco

Arsenal Dominate the Second Half
The second half witnessed Arsenal dominate proceedings. Just five minutes into the restart, Mikel Merino gave the Gunners the lead. A corner was dealt with in a great set-piece routine that saw Flekken fail to clear the corner, allowing Merino to jump on it and find the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli sealed the win with a flash of individual brilliance. Following Nathan Collins’ headed clearance, Martinelli controlled the ball with his thigh and launched a precise shot into the bottom corner. The goal, initially sent to VAR for review, stuck, further anguishing the Brentford defense.

Brentford’s Blight Continues
Having begun the season well at home, Brentford has been disappointing in recent weeks. The Bees have lost four Premier League matches in a row and suffered consecutive home defeats. Manager Thomas Frank will be most frustrated with his team’s defensive lapses, which Arsenal mercilessly punished.

While Brentford flashed several times with their attack risk, including Mathias Jensen’s last-ditch effort, they were hardly faced with threats after the third goal. Bees will hope to win on their return tie with Southampton.
Arsenal Determination Shines Through
Ahead of the game, Mikel Arteta told his players to be “like a hammer” in the pursuit of Liverpool. His men responded well, despite the setback at the very start. A measured approach with relentless pressure paid its dividend for Arsenal, who demonstrated an ability to adapt and take advantage of chances that is an important characteristic for title contenders.

Arteta’s inspiration was also found in the choice of 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri in the starting lineup. The teenager, who was making his Premier League debut, played a very important role in Arsenal’s success. His corner delivery led to Merino’s goal, and his creativity added a new dimension to the team’s attack.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Arsenal now leapfrogged Nottingham Forest into sixth place with six points off the league leader Liverpool. They will look to continue their momentum when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Brentford, meanwhile, will need to shore up their defense and regain their form from the start of the season if they want to avoid a further slide in the table.