Player Ratings: Brentford 1-3 Arsenal
Goals from Jesus, Merino and Martinelli cap excellent Arsenal comeback at Brentford
Gunners cut Liverpool's lead at top of Premier League to six points after comeback win
Mikel Arteta's side came rom behind after Bryan Mbeumo's early strike - with goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli sealing all three points in West London on the first day of 2025
Travelling Gooners celebrating Gabi Martinelli’s goal to make it 3-1 to Arsenal here at Brentford pic.twitter.com/dgEMP2WBPM
— Layth (@laythy29) January 1, 2025
Arsenal Player Ratings:
David Raya: 6.5/10 - Should have done better on his first return to Brentford as Arsenal’s permanent keeper when Bryan Mbeumo beat the Euro 2024 winner with a low drive at his near post. Nearly conceded a second but managed to palm away the Bees’ No19’s effort on the line
Jurrien Timber: 6.5/10 - Booked with 70 minutes still to play. Caution also means the former Ajax defender will miss the trip to Brighton on Saturday
William Saliba: 7/10 - After a surprisingly shaky opening 15 minutes the world class centre-back got back in the groove and helped his side to a vital victory by shackling the Bees frontline
Gabriel: 7/10 - Solid and realiable
Riccardo Calafiori: 6/10 - Turned inside far too easily by Brentford goalscorer Mbeumo who unleashed a powerful low drive on his stronger left-foot. Booked
Thomas Partey: 7/10 - Helped contribute to Arsenal’s opening goal when his initial shot was only parried by Bees’ keeper Mark Flekken, prior to Jesus showing predatory instincts when following up prior to slotting home
Martin Odegaard (c): 6/10 - Sloppily gave the ball away prior to Christian Damsgaard feeding Mbeumo for the Bees’ opener
Mikel Merino: 7/10 - Scorer of Arsenal's second goal as the Gunners staged an excellent recovery
Gabi Martinelli: 7.5/10 - Netted the Gunners third to seal an important victory that sent Arteta's side back to second spot
Jesus: 7.5/10 - Showed a goalscorers’ instinct when following-up Thomas Partey’s effort that Brentford keeper Flekken could only parry just before the half hour mark to make it six goals in four games in all competitions for the Brazil striker – as many as in his previous 48 for the Gunners
Ethan Nwaneri: 7/10 - Given a start at the ground the talented teen made his Premier League debut at the tender age of 15. Looked lively at times down the right flank, beating his man on several occasions
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