This had the hallmarks of “one of those days” for Arsenal, but an early second-half blitz ensured the Gunners secured three crucial points at Brentford.
The Bees were depleted but still an annoyance to face, and the contest could’ve drifted into one of great frustration after Bryan Mbeumo handed the hosts a 13th-minute lead. A rare David Raya flap may well have been the turning point, with Arsenal’s equaliser arriving less than a minute after the Spaniard’s extravagant recovery on the goal-line.
Once again, Mikel Arteta’s side were measured and controlled. They impressively mitigated a reported pre-match bug and may have stumbled upon an exciting solution to Bukayo Saka’s prolonged absence.
Here were the three standout Arsenal performers from their New Year’s Day win at the Gtech.
1. Thomas Partey
There would’ve been a few eyebrows raised when the teams were announced, with Arteta opting for Partey over Declan Rice at the base of midfield. Given Brentford’s proficiency at transitions, the manager’s decision appeared a risky one.
Partey, however, masqueraded as Rice at the base of Arsenal’s midfield, performing excellently in a difficult role. The Ghanaian was aggressive in counter-pressing situations and timed his jumps perfectly when aiming to intercept or dispossess.
He ended the bout with a team-high five tackles having also won six out of six ground duels and 66% of his aerial duels. Brentford rarely had success when they tried to penetrate centrally as a result of Partey’s astute positioning and imposing presence.
Unfortunately, with Jurrien Timber set to serve a one-match suspension, the midfielder may find himself lined up against Kaoru Mitoma when the Gunners visit Brighton on Saturday evening.
2. Ethan Nwaneri
Arteta name-checked Nwaneri as one of the players who could be used down the right to mitigate Saka’s absence. Gabriel Martinelli and his straight-line running offered little against Ipswich on Friday, so the boss changed tack here against a low-lying defence.
While Martinelli was stationed on the opposite flank, Nwaneri performed his interpretation of the Saka role. The fearless teenager often drifted inside and rotated with Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, but he also showed an ability to beat his man on the outside with a swift change of pace.
Much of his best work came when he worked infield, with his ventures inside opening up space for wicked deliveries. While he won’t be rewarded in the assists column, two Nwaneri crosses led to Arsenal’s second and third goals.
The precocious starlet manifested an aura of calm on Wednesday evening, with the performance suggesting that a few more starts are set to arrive at his door in the coming weeks.
3. Gabriel Jesus
Jesus drew a blank last time out against Ipswich, and there may have been a few fears as to whether his slaying of the Eagles was a mere flash in the pan.
The Brazilian dispelled those concerns with another fine performance in west London.
Arsenal were reeling after falling behind, struggling to restore control, but Jesus stood up and got the Gunners back into the game with an instinctive headed finish. Once he’d scored, supporters needn’t have worried about the result. Before Wednesday, Jesus had netted in 61 Premier League games and never lost.
Outside of the goal, the forward also aided a struggling left-hand side by interchanging and combining with Martinelli, allowing the Gunners to penetrate in behind on occasions.
Jesus is certainly playing with a sharpness we haven’t seen since his debut campaign, and his resurgence has arrived at the perfect time for Arteta.
