Mikel Arteta’s prayers not quite enough to overcome Keith Andrews’ brave Brentford

Brentford (0) 1 v Arsenal (0) 1

Premier League

Matchweek 26

Talking Points

By Kaz Mochlinski at the Brentford Community Stadium

Mikel Arteta admitted that “you have to pray” when you play against Brentford, and he revealed that he informed his players of the need to defend with their lives before securing a 1-1 away draw which keeps Arsenal clear at the top of the Premier League.

Two throw-ins produced the two second half goals from two fine headers, with Arsenal scoring on the hour indirectly after a short throw, and Brentford equalising 10 minutes later directly from a long throw. So it was the Bees relying on a set-piece this time.

Having not scored in his previous 25 Premier League matches, Noni Madueke has now got two goals in two consecutive away games, both vital in ensuring four points from the encounters - exactly the advantage Arsenal have in the table over Manchester City.

At Brentford, Madueke would have been celebrating his first league goal for the Gunners if the Premier League’s Goal Accreditation Panel had not in hindsight correctly awarded him one against Leeds United, initially given as a Karl Darlow own-goal.

But, whereas Arsenal held on to their lead at Leeds and extended it, on a Thursday night in West London they were unable to repeat either accomplishment as Brentford showed the qualities that have taken them into the upper reaches of the top flight.

“They are an unbelievable team and we’ve gone toe-to-toe with them” said the Bees’ delighted head coach, Keith Andrews, afterwards, rightly emphasising the positives, despite the frustration of still having only one win in four home matches in 2026.

“To keep a team of that calibre, which I hold in the highest regard - how they play, the individuals thay have, they can conjure something up from nothing - was really pleasing.”

Just as when Chelsea visited earlier in the season, Brentford recovered after being behind to gain a point with a long throw from the left wing, finished at the far post. In September the scorer was Fábio Carvalho, this time it was Keane Lewis-Potter.

“We lacked certain composure to dominate the game better” acknowledged the Arsenal manager. “We scored the goal and the game was under total control. But, against them, that’s not enough.

“Because they just need somebody making a foul that is unnecessary, a ball in the channel, they punish you. The clearance is not good, the ball goes for a throw-in. Then you have to pray, because they are exceptional at what they do.

“The chaos that is in and around that ball is very, very difficult to defend. And we said ‘You want to win here, you’re going to have to defend the box with your life. And you’re going to have to clear the ball because there’s a lot of people in there’.

“And, if you don’t do that, it’s very difficult for you to win the game. We haven’t done it in one of the actions. Credit to them as well for that.”

Arteta also added ruefully: “If you want to win here, you’re going to have to be really ruthless in both boxes, and today we lacked that.”

Like he has done before, Arteta preferred to see a point gained rather than two points dropped. But he acknowledged the need for victories in Arsenal’s title chase: “We’re going to be willing and preparing to win every single match.

“And the only thing we can do is focus on that. We need to raise the levels, collectively and individually, to be better than the opponent every week. That’s going to carry on like this until May.”

However, he also accepted the Arsenal fans’ anxiety at a missed opportunity to extend the gap ahead of City in second place: “I understand, but that’s if, if, if. If we’d lost at Newcastle, we’d have been eight points behind Liverpool in October.

“So, if, if - there are a lot of ifs over 10 months in this competition. You can only focus on what you have to do, and try to do that in the best possible way.”

In the circumstances, it would be fair to say that Andrews was much the happier of the two men in charge - especially with the way that his Brentford players have developed and progressed, individually and collectively, since the start of the season.

“I think it was a performance filled with grit, personality, character, ability, bravery. At different stages of the game, obviously. When we were in control, loads of control, lost control, then regained it back, and looked so dangerous.

“Loved us from set-pieces tonight. I thought we were a constant threat. I thought we actually played with a real determination to get the three points. We weren’t content with the result going to 1-1.

“We really pushed on, and I think it’s fair to say in the latter stages we were the more likely to win the game” insisted the Bees’ boss, who made no apology for using a set-piece to score, outmanoeuvring the team most heralded for that phase of play.

“I think if you’re going to score a goal against Arsenal it’s going to be hard-earned. I think the stats don’t lie, and I know what a good outfit they are without the ball. So you have to try and cause a little bit of chaos.

“I think we did that in the game. Definitely did it from set-pieces. And we did it from transitions.” Andrews’ enthusiasm for his work is infectious, and it comes across clearly in his detailed analysis of the match.

“I think most teams want control of the game. What that looks like for the big teams obviously when they have the ball for large parts of the game, I think you have to have different plans of where you are on the pitch and how you can disrupt that, I suppose.

“I thought we did that really well when we jumped on them and released and went really aggressive. Equally, when we went a little bit lower how we tried to nullify spaces.

“Then with the ball obviously we play our game and we try and make things pretty unpredictable for the opposition. There was a real willingness to do the basics of the game, which I hold in really high places in our priorities.

“Yeah, I always want to cause chaos. I want us to play in a relentless fashion. I said that on day one when I actually took over I want us to play relentless football. I think we’ve built that as the season’s gone on.

“I just love watching us play the game. I want us to play in a certain way, where if I was a paying fan I would want to watch this team. And I think we’ve been doing that pretty consistently.”

When asked to select what trait pleased him most in the draw with Arsenal, Andrews was unequivocal: “Bravery I would say was the keyword. Let’s be brave with the ball and without the ball. Let’s not take steps back when we can take steps forward.

“The communication, the encouragement, from the man behind and the unit behind, was the key tonight. And being vocal: let’s not take steps back - I don’t want us to be that team.”

Last season under Thomas Frank, Brentford missed out on European qualification. Now there is a real possibility of reaching that target in Andrews’ first campaign. Though he still does not want to mention the ‘E’ word…

“It is 12 games left. But I think, I promise you, we will attack every single one of them. And push. And continue to push, really hard, to see how much we can achieve this year.”

Both Brentford and Arsenal have had a memorable season so far, and it looks like remaining exciting to the end. Incomparably the bigger surprise has been what Andrews rather than Arteta has done.

“We’re constantly growing, I think. In fact, I know” comments the debutant in the dugout. “We’re playing in a fearless manner. Will that always give us the result we want? Obviously not.

“But, as long as we continue to strive towards that, it just fills me with pride the way I watch the team, the way I watch individuals, attack it and embrace the challenge and just get after teams.”

It is hard to disagree with Andrews when he joyfully states “We’re a pretty good team, aren’t we.”