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Arsenal's title lead cut to four points after frustrating draw at Brentford
Arsenal's Premier League title bid suffered another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford on Thursday night. The dropped points, combined with Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Fulham on Wednesday, means the gap at the top is now just four points with 12 matches remaining.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal: Gunners let lead slip again
Arsenal travelled to west London knowing a victory would restore their six-point cushion at the top of the table. Instead, they returned home with just a point after being pegged back by Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The first half was a tight affair with few clear-cut chances. Arsenal had the better of the possession but struggled to break down a well-organised Bees defence.
The breakthrough finally came on the hour mark. Former PSV winger Noni Madueke rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from Piero Hincapié, heading the ball into the net to give the visitors a deserved lead. It appeared Arsenal were on course for a crucial three points.
However, Brentford had other ideas. Ten minutes after falling behind, the home side drew level through Keane Lewis-Potter. A long throw from Michael Kayode was flicked on in the penalty area, and Lewis-Potter reacted quickest to head home from close range.
Arsenal pushed for a winner in the closing stages but couldn't find a way through. The draw means Mikel Arteta's side have now won just two of their last five Premier League matches – victories over Leeds United (4-0) and Sunderland (3-0) sandwiched between draws and defeats.
The result keeps Arsenal top of the table on 57 points, but Manchester City are now breathing down their necks after their comfortable midweek victory.
Title race implications
Arsenal's lead has been cut from nine points to just four in the space of two weeks. The Gunners' wobble has handed Manchester City a lifeline in the title race.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Pts | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 57 | — |
| 2 | Manchester City | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 53 | -4 |
There are 12 matches remaining for both sides, with a potential title-deciding clash scheduled for April 18 at the Etihad Stadium. Before that meeting, Arsenal face a challenging run of fixtures including London derbies against Tottenham and Chelsea.
Manchester City 3-0 Fulham: Champions keep pressure on
Manchester City did their job on Wednesday night, cruising to a 3-0 victory over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's side were clinical in front of goal, closing the gap on Arsenal before the Gunners' trip to Brentford. The comfortable victory continued City's strong recent form and served as a reminder to Arsenal that the champions are ready to pounce on any slip-ups.
Arsenal's recent form
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 24 | Arsenal vs Man United | L 2-3 |
| Jan 31 | Leeds vs Arsenal | W 0-4 |
| Feb 7 | Arsenal vs Sunderland | W 3-0 |
| Feb 12 | Brentford vs Arsenal | D 1-1 |
What's next?
Arsenal face a crucial run of fixtures that could define their season:
- Feb 21: Tottenham (A) – North London derby
- Feb 28: Chelsea (H) – London derby
- Mar 22: EFL Cup Final vs Manchester City (Wembley)
- Apr 18: Manchester City (A) – potential title decider
Meanwhile, City will be looking to continue their winning run and pile pressure on the leaders. If the gap can be reduced to a single point before April's showdown at the Etihad, the title race will be wide open.
Thursday's Results
- Brentford 1-1 Arsenal (Lewis-Potter 70' – Madueke 60')
Wednesday's Results
- Manchester City 3-0 Fulham
- Aston Villa vs Brighton
- Crystal Palace vs Burnley
- Nottingham Forest vs Wolves
- Sunderland vs Liverpool
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