Despite taking an early lead at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford fell 3-1 to Arsenal in the opening Premier League game of 2025.
Bryan Mbeumo put the hosts ahead within the first 15 minutes, but Arsenal equalized through Gabriel Jesus on the half-hour mark. The Gunners secured victory in the second half with goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli, sealing an important win for Mikel Arteta’s side.
First Half: Brentford Strike First, but Arsenal Respond
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank made two changes to his lineup, with Sepp van den Berg and Yehor Yarmoliuk replacing Kevin Schade and Ben Mee. Arsenal dominated possession early on, creating half-chances that failed to test Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
The home side took the lead in the 13th minute. Mikkel Damsgaard picked up the ball in midfield, dribbled past Martin Ødegaard, and sent a perfectly timed pass to Mbeumo. The winger drove into the penalty area, cut onto his left foot, and fired a low shot past David Raya at the near post.
Brentford nearly doubled their advantage when Keane Lewis-Potter’s curling effort slipped through Raya’s hands and rolled toward the goal. The former Bees goalkeeper recovered just in time to claw the ball off the line.
Arsenal equalized in the 29th minute. Brentford failed to clear their lines, and after Thomas Partey’s shot was saved, Gabriel Jesus pounced on the rebound to head home, leveling the score.
The remainder of the half saw both teams push for a lead, but it remained 1-1 at halftime.
Second Half: Arsenal Take Control
Arsenal took the lead shortly after the break. A corner was initially cleared, but the second delivery caused chaos in the Brentford box. Flekken’s punch fell to Jesus, whose volley was blocked by Van den Berg before Mikel Merino tapped in from close range.
Just minutes later, Arsenal made it 3-1. Ethan Nwaneri’s cross was deflected to the edge of the area, where Gabriel Martinelli collected it and unleashed a powerful shot into the net.
Brentford had opportunities to claw one back. A Mathias Jensen long throw caused panic in the Arsenal box, but David Raya smothered the ball before Mbeumo could capitalize. Late in stoppage time, Nathan Collins narrowly missed connecting with a Jensen lofted ball at the back post.
Arsenal managed the game well in the second half, limiting Brentford’s chances and maintaining their two-goal advantage.
Post-Match Reactions
Thomas Frank attributed the defeat to lapses in defending during key moments.
“Overall, it was a good performance,” Frank said. “We were brave, defended well for large parts, and scored a brilliant goal. But the three big moments cost us—two avoidable goals and a set-piece where they’re among the best in the world.”
Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt highlighted the team’s struggles with set pieces.
“It was a difficult game,” Janelt said. “We played well in the first half, but conceding a set-piece goal and another soon after killed our momentum. We had possession but didn’t create enough to come back.”
Team Lineups
Brentford: Flekken; Collins, Van den Berg (Ji-soo 75), Janelt; Roerslev, Damsgaard (Maghoma 75), Nørgaard (Jensen 75), Yarmoliuk, Lewis-Potter; Mbeumo, Wissa (Schade 75)
Subs Not Used: Valdimarsson, Meghoma, Konak, Yogane, Arthur
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 78); Partey, Ødegaard (Jorginho 88), Merino (Rice 78); Nwaneri (Trossard 78), Jesus (Zinchenko 90+1), Martinelli
Subs not used: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Kabia
The result sees Arsenal continue their push at the top of the table, while Brentford will look to bounce back in their next outing.