Last Update: February 11, 2023, 23:22 IST
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, center right, and Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, center left, challenge for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Brentford at Emirates Stadium in London, Saturday, February 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augustine)
Leandro Trossard’s first Arsenal goal gave the hosts the lead in the 66th minute when he headed in Bukayo Saka’s cross. But Ivan Toni equalized eight minutes later with a close-range header after the Gunners failed to clear a free kick
Arsenal’s grip on the English Premier League lead is suddenly looking shaky.
The Gunners were held 1-1 by Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, dropping points for the second game in a row and giving Manchester City fresh hope of moving atop the table.
The result means City can reduce Arsenal’s lead to three points with a home win over Aston Villa on Sunday. With Arsenal hosting City on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s side will move top on goal difference if they win both matches – although the Gunners have played a game less.
Read this also Premier League: Chelsea play 1-1 draw at West Ham
Leandro Trossard’s first Arsenal goal gave the hosts the lead in the 66th minute when he headed in Bukayo Saka’s cross. But Ivan Toni equalized eight minutes later with a close-range header after the Gunners failed to clear a free kick.
After losing 1-0 at Everton last weekend, Arsenal again looked flat for most of the game and were even lucky to see Brentford waste two great chances.
Toney’s cross evaded Arsenal defenders from the right to give Rico Henry a chance to score into an open net, but the full-back could not make clean contact with the ball and it went wide.
Toni then almost scored in the 25th when Brian Mbeumo teed it up inside the area, but the striker’s shot hit the corner of the goal frame.
With Arsenal’s attack sputtering, Trossard came off the bench to provide a much needed spark. The former Brighton forward, who joined Arsenal in the January transfer window, was at the forward post to fire the ball into an empty net after being fouled by Saka.
But this rise did not last long.
After Arsenal failed to clear a swinging free kick in the area, Brentford kept the ball alive with three straight headers, before Christian Norgaard fired the ball across the goal, where Toni had an easy header into an empty net. Was. The Brentford celebrations were halted for a lengthy VAR check for possible offside before the goal was allowed to stand.
Oleksandr Zinchenko scored narrowly in the 80th as Arsenal looked for an immediate response but the hosts never came close to a winner.
read all Latest sports news Here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)