Arsenal kicked off 2025 in the right way, taking all three points in what was a tricky away game against Brentford.
Rumours of a bug in the camp abounded pre-game, and when the team sheet was announced there was no Kai Havertz, the German was too ill to play. Mikel Arteta revealed afterwards that even some of those who played had been affected, but insisted that his decision to start Ethan Nwaneri was about the 17 year old deserving it rather than anything else. More on him anon.
We began well, with plenty of the ball in their half, but it was the home side who went ahead. A Martin Odegaard pass was intercepted in their half, they took it forward, the impressive Bryan Mbeumo took it on, got onto his left foot in our box, and his shot inside the near post caught David Raya out. I think he was anticipating a curler to the far corner, it was a nice finish from an in-form player, but it felt like a soft goal to concede.
It might have been a very different night after Raya let a shot slip through his hands, but not for the first time this season his incredible reaction times bailed us out. As the ball bounced towards the net, he raced back quickly to paw it to safety, and the replays showed just how close it came to going in. Had it gone to 2-0, it would have been far more challenging to get something from the game – that felt like a big moment. It was a mess of his own making, but he did brilliantly to keep it out.
Less than a minute later we were level. It got a bit scrappy on the edge of the Brentford box, a dodgy touch from Mbeumo ended up with Thomas Partey taking on a shot which the keeper saved, but Gabriel Jesus was there to head home the rebound from close range. Was it the most beautiful goal ever? Far from it, but it was smart centre-forward play from the Brazilian who was in the right place, anticipated the rebound, and applied the finish. 1-1.
While it was a first half we didn’t create massively in, we still finished it having had 9 shots to Brentford’s 4, and I think we deserved to go in level. It was then about what we’d do in the second half against a team with – then at least – the joint best record at home in the Premier League. The answer was emphatic, two goals in a couple of minutes that completely knocked the stuffing out of them.
First, a corner from the left taken by Ethan Nwaneri saw a Jesus shot blocked, but Mikel Merino was there to stab the ball home for his second goal of the season. Then just a couple of minutes after that, Nwaneri’s quick feet delivered a cross which Brentford couldn’t clear well enough, it fell for Gabriel Martinelli and his finish gave the keeper no chance to make it 3-1.
After that, it was like a different match. Brentford barely threatened, we kept things under control, and in the context of the schedule we find ourselves in, I think we played a game of containment. Sometimes you feel like one goal for the opposition would change things, but they never looked like getting it. After a first half he won’t have been too fond of on his return to Brentford, I thought Raya was very good in the second, playing with exactly the assurance we needed from him at 3-1 up.
The back four were solid, Partey had a good game anchoring the midfield, and we made a load of changes without it impacting the way the game was playing out to its inevitable conclusion. The only really negative note was a first half booking for Jurrien Timber which rules him out of Saturday’s trip to Brighton.
Afterwards, Arteta said:
It’s a very difficult place to come, when you see their record at home, the way they play, the way they cause issues to opponents, very impressive, on top of that, we went a goal down. So then, it becomes a big mountain to climb, but I think the team showed a lot of composure, was very calm emotionally because we needed that in today’s game and as well had the right desire to keep insisting, attacking them and do it in a way that can cause them problems, which is difficult. So, overall, I think we deserved to win the game.
By any measure this is a very good result against a side who have been excellent at home this season. It looked at least banana-skin adjacent, with the injuries and absences and the early goal for them it became more complicated, but we reacted really well and I think we absolutely deserved all three points. It’s also really, really important that players like Martinelli and Jesus provide end-product right now, so that’s another big positive to take from this one.
Understandably, the manager was also asked about Ethan Nwaneri who started on the right, and said:
That was a decision we made because I thought he was the best player to play in the position to start the game and because there was a story there, with his debut here. He made his Premier League debut and sometimes that feeling comes in and you feel it’s the right one.
I was glad to see him get the nod, I have to say. I did wonder if Ipswich at home might have been a ‘safer’ way to give him his first Premier League start, but perhaps there’s something more to take from yesterday. It’s always tough away from home, and I think he came through this game with flying colours. He was good on the ball, brave in possession, involved in two of our goals, and what a performance like that does is reassure a manager that a young player is a truly viable option.
In the same way Myles Lewis-Skelly took a big step forward after being handed a start in the Champions League against Monaco, I think this could be the moment for Nwaneri. We are short on numbers in attack, and while obviously it’s wrong to compare him to Bukayo Saka, he gives us something similar in that position which might be something the manager considers as he picks his teams throughout this hectic period. Nwaneri should be very pleased with his night’s work, and I expect to see more of him from now on – whether it’s on the right or elsewhere.
A final thing on him: given the importance of set-pieces to this team, it was notable he was given that responsibility yesterday. The ‘easy’ option would be Odegaard, but it’s another little feather in Nwaneri’s cap that he was trusted – and provided decent delivery too. So overall, a very pleasing way to start 2025. It’s the first of two tricky away games this week, so hopefully we can rest up, get over some of the illness issues, and repeat the feat when we travel to Brighton on Saturday.
Right, let’s leave it there. We’re gonna have an Arsecast Extra for you in a little while too. We’ve put out the call for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or if you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, leave your question in the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod should be out around lunchtime. For now, have a good one.
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