Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka scored as Arsenal beat Brentford to restore their five point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Manager Mikel Arteta made three changes to the side that drew with Chelsea on Sunday with Ben White, Noni Madueke and captain Martin Odegaard coming in.
And it was White and Madueke who combined in the build up on 11 minutes with right-back White crossing for Arsenal’s make-shift front man Merino to head home.
Merino has had to play regularly as Arsenal’s frontman because of injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres and his goal was his 13th in 2025, the most of any Arsenal player during the year.
Bukayo Saka added the second in stoppage time after being played through on goal by Merino from midfield, and despite the best efforts of Caoimhin Kelleher, the ball bounced over the line.
Brentford were pinned back for large parts of the game but went close to equalising in the first half when Kevin Schade’s header from a corner was pushed onto the crossbar by David Raya.
The only worry for Arteta was that Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice both had to be taken off with knocks.
The victory extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 18 games across all competitions and was also their eighth successive win at home.
