Arsenal vs Brentford LIVE: Gunners drop points once again as Liverpool strengthen grip on Premier League title
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford: Mikel Arteta’s side lose even more ground in the Premier League title race
Arsenal have lost even more ground in the Premier League title race as they dropped points to Brentford.
Thomas Partey gave the Gunners a second-half lead, finishing off a lightning-quick counter attack with Declan Rice at the heart of things once again for Mikel Arteta’s side.
However, Yoane Wissa hooked in a crucial equaliser to score in back-to-back visits to the Emirates - a goal that would deny Arsenal all three points on the afternoon.
The result means Liverpool need just nine more points from six games to seal the Premier League title, which could be won against Arsenal’s fierce North London rivals Tottenham on April 27.
Follow all the Premier League action with our live blog below:
Declan Rice: Arsenal's new free-kick maestro?
Declan Rice had not scored a direct free-kick in his 338 career games before Tuesday’s visit of Real Madrid. He then hit two stunners in the space of 12 minutes.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Mikel Arteta sticks him on any and all free-kicks for the foreseeable future.
The three words that inspired Arsenal’s greatest Champions League night
If the “magic moments”, as Mikel Arteta put it, didn’t make it clear, two images revealed the scale of Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. One was the scene in the dressing room, where staff congratulating the players could barely be heard over the noise. It was raucous.
When Declan Rice came in with his man-of-the-match award, he was laughing about how Nicolas Jover told him to cross his first free kick. A few yards away, Carlo Ancelotti could barely be heard for very different reasons. The Real Madrid manager’s voice was unusually low for his post-match press conference, which didn’t last long. Ancelotti has rarely been so subdued.
That was ultimately because of another message relayed by Arteta, that was heard loud and clear.
The three words that inspired Arsenal’s greatest Champions League night
Heavy rotation from Arteta, as expected
Five changes to the Arsenal side that thrashed Real Madrid on Tuesday.
One of those is Kieran Tierney, who comes into the side to start his first game for the Gunners since May 2023. He is joined by Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri.
The five to miss out from the midweek team are Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly - all are among the substitutes.
Declan Rice retains his place in the side following his midweek free-kick masterclass.
Line-ups CONFIRMED!
Arsenal XI: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Jorginho, Rice, Zinchenko; Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard.
Brentford XI: Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Van den Berg; Lewis-Potter, Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard; Schade, Wissa, Mbuemo.
Tottenham appoint former Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham as new CEO
Arsenal have fallen victim to a “reverse Sol Campbell”...
Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Vinai Venkatesham, who formerly occupied the same role at Arsenal, as their new chief executive.
Venkatesham stepped down as chief executive at Arsenal last summer after working his way up the club’s hierarchy, having initially joined in 2010.
The executive spent four years in the top role at the Emirates Stadium in a period in which Mikel Arteta transformed the club’s on-field fortunes amid significant investment.
Tottenham appoint former Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham as new CEO
Mikel Arteta details quality that makes Bukayo Saka irreplaceable for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta says winger Bukayo Saka offers Arsenal something "no other player can provide".
The England international won both free-kicks which Declan Rice converted in the Gunners' 3-0 Champions League dismantling of Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
The Hale End academy product, who was playing his third match after returning from a hamstring injury which kept him out since December, was substituted at the Emirates but will be available for Saturday's Premier League clash against Brentford, according to head coach Arteta.
"He's very important, he gives us a level of threat, connection and unpredictability that at the moment no other player can provide us," Arteta told reporters on Friday.
Mikel Arteta details quality that makes Bukayo Saka irreplaceable for Arsenal
Odds for the clash
Arsenal win 4/7
Draw 12/5
Brentford win 4/1
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Predicted line-ups
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Odegaard, Jorginho, Merino; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling.
Brentford XI: Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Yarmolyuk; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa.
Brentford team news
Rico Henry was back in the Brentford matchday squad for their last fixture against Chelsea, a welcome return from a long-term injury. He could be in contention to feature in North London.
Fabio Carvalho, Joshua Dasilva, Igor Thiago, Aaron Hickey and Gustavo Nunes remain out.
Arsenal team news
Arsenal may well freshen up their side after an emotionally and physically draining night against Real Madrid, with hopes of a title triumph all but gone despite a slip up for Liverpool last weekend.
Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Ben White are perhaps among those in line for starts.
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