Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to four points after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday, 12 February 2026. Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League title race loosened slightly on Thursday night, 12 February 2026, as a resilient Brentford side fought back to claim a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium. The result leaves Mikel Arteta’s side just four points clear of a surging Manchester City with 12 games remaining in the season.A Game of Two Halves The opening 45 minutes were a cagey affair, defined by tactical discipline rather than attacking flair. Arsenal, appearing somewhat disjointed without the presence of the injured William Saliba, struggled to find their usual rhythm. Eberechi Eze, handed a rare start, failed to exert influence and was substituted at the interval for club captain Martin Ødegaard. Brentford, meanwhile, grew in confidence and nearly took the lead before the break. A rare lapse from goalkeeper David Raya—misplacing a routine throw—allowed Mathias Jensen to cross for Igor Thiago, whose goal-bound header was superbly parried by Raya to atone for his error. Second-Half Drama The introduction of Ødegaard sparked an immediate improvement for the Gunners. In the 61st minute, the deadlock was finally broken. Piero Hincapié delivered a pinpoint cross from the left, which Noni Madueke met with a looping header that sailed over Caoimhín Kelleher into the far corner. However, the lead proved short-lived. Brentford, renowned for their potency from set-pieces, exploited a signature weapon in the 71st minute. A long throw from Michael Kayode was flicked on by Sepp van den Berg, allowing Keane Lewis-Potter to ghost in at the back post and power a header past Raya.
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Late Frustration for the Leaders The final stages descended into a frantic end-to-end battle. Brentford’s Igor Thiago missed a golden opportunity to snatch all three points, firing over while one-on-one with Raya. At the other end, Gabriel Martinelli thought he had secured a dramatic winner in the 94th minute, only for Kelleher to produce a sensational sprawling save to preserve the point for the Bees. Managerial Reaction Mikel Arteta expressed frustration at his side's lack of control after taking the lead: "We started the second half brilliantly... but after that, the game became chaotic. The moment you start to give away free-kicks and let the ball into the channels, it becomes a nightmare against this team". Keith Andrews, the Brentford head coach, was full of praise for his squad's "fearless" performance and noted that his side felt they could have won the game.Standings & Outlook Arsenal remain top with 57 points, but with Manchester City (53 points) closing the gap, the margin for error has narrowed. Brentford move to 7th place (40 points), staying firmly in the hunt for European football. The Gunners next face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, while their Premier League title defense continues against Wolves later this month. These reports break down the 1-1 draw between Brentford and Arsenal, offering insights into tactical performances, player contributions, and the evolving Premier League title race:
Brentford Football Club
