The English league doesn’t take a break even on January 1, and the London side is closing in on Liverpool; this Thursday marks the first semifinal for the Italian Supercup.
Arsenal started off on the back foot but rallied to secure a 3-1 victory against Brentford in their trip to the Gtech Community Stadium, on Wednesday, marking the first match of the Premier League in 2025 and the final game of the 19th round. This was the first significant match of 2025, the only one played on January 1 among Europe’s five major leagues.
As a result of the win, the Gunners now have 39 points, reclaiming their second-place position, which they had temporarily ceded to Nottingham Forest (3rd, 37), who had beaten Everton 2-0 at their ground on Sunday. In contrast, the leaders, Liverpool, who thrashed West Ham 5-0 on the road, remain six points ahead of Arsenal.
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The match started in freezing temperatures with a light drizzle, and Arsenal struggled early on as Brentford took the lead through a goal from Bryan Mbeumo in the 13th minute. Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus played a crucial role in Arsenal’s comeback, equalizing just before the half-hour mark with a diving header, marking his sixth goal in the last four matches after scoring just one in the first twenty of the season.
Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino and fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli struck two quick blows at the beginning of the second half, which ultimately turned out to be a calm affair for the visitors. “The team did very well today. Coming here and playing like we did is fantastic, not just because of the result. We came for the three points, but the way we reacted in this match matters a lot,” Gabriel Jesus celebrated in statements to TNT Sports.
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Aside from the 5-1 victory against Crystal Palace ten days ago, Arsenal had shown signs of vulnerability in their recent performances, securing some tough wins. Nevertheless, they have now achieved four consecutive victories across all competitions and remain unbeaten in their last twelve outings. They continue to excel in London derbies, having not lost any in the recently concluded 2024.
Unlike other European championships that take a breather during the Christmas and New Year festivities, the Premier League typically speeds up its competition during this period. In the 20th round on Saturday, Arsenal will visit Brighton & Hove, while Brentford will look to respond with an outing against last-placed Southampton. On Sunday at 13:30, the biggest classic in English Football will take place: Liverpool, the leaders, vs. Manchester United.
The Saudi Arabian Supercup, meanwhile, will see its fifth edition on Saudi territory, and the menu looks promising. The first clash appears to be an anticipated final, as it pits what seem to be the two best Italian teams at the moment against each other. Atalanta leads Serie A with 41 points, while Inter is third with 40. Napoli is also in the mix with 41, but they are not in the Supercup discussion.
Inter, the reigning Serie A champions, has been victorious in the last three Supercup clashes and will bring their experience and pedigree against an Atalanta side that has managed only two trophies in its history: the Coppa Italia in 1963 and the Europa League in 2024. “We are facing the strongest team in our league. It is an important test to see if we have progressed,” commented Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, whose team qualified for this competition as finalists of the Coppa Italia, which they lost to Juventus. They had managed eleven wins in Serie A until their streak was halted at 1-1 against Lazio on Saturday.
The second semifinal on Friday features two teams that disappointed in the first half of their domestic league. Milan, the Serie A runners-up in the 2023/2024 season, sits 14 points behind the leaders, while Juventus, coached by Thiago Motta, has lost only one league match this season but has drawn several, leaving them in sixth place. The Milan bench will be a focal point of interest: the new coach, Conceição, who succeeded fellow Portuguese Fonseca on Monday after he was sacked just six months into his tenure.
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