EPL: Brentford Holds Arsenal to 1-1 Draw at Emirates Stadium

Brentford holds Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, with Yoane Wissa scoring the equalizer in the 74th minute.

Brentford secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, avoiding defeat against a top-three side for the first time in five matches. Yoane Wissa's goal helped the Bees earn a point, as Arsenal let their lead slip. Mikel Arteta's rotated side contributed to a slow start, with the Gunners struggling to find their rhythm.

Despite the slow start, Arsenal created moments, including Ethan Nwaneri's shot that was deflected wide and Christian Norgaard's awkward handling of a Thomas Partey header. The game's first shot on target came from Brentford, with Kristoffer Ajer's effort denied by David Raya. Kieran Tierney nearly marked his return to the lineup with a goal, but his header from Nwaneri's cross was ruled out for offside.

Arsenal continued to press for a goal, with Oleksandr Zinchenko's low effort palmed wide by Mark Flekken. Gabriel Martinelli was denied by a timely block from Kristoffer Ajer after being found by a searching William Saliba pass. Leandro Trossard also had several attempts, heading over from a corner and hitting two ambitious shots from range that were denied.

After the restart, Brentford stood firm against Arsenal's early pressure and began to create their own moments of quality. A superb ball from Keane Lewis-Potter forced a corner, showcasing the Bees' growing confidence. The breakthrough came on the hour mark when Arsenal scored from a corner, with Declan Rice sprinting up the pitch to tee up Thomas Partey for a first-time finish after David Raya rolled the ball out.

Brentford deny Arsenal the chance to close the gap on Liverpool 🛑#ARSBRE pic.twitter.com/MjYPAbn0Gc

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 12, 2025

Brentford continued to push for a winner despite Arsenal introducing some of their regular starters. The Bees eventually equalized in the 74th minute when a corner wasn't cleared convincingly, allowing Kristoffer Ajer to head Michael Kayode's cross back for Yoane Wissa to score with an improvised shot that beat David Raya.

The draw meant Brentford recorded back-to-back points, moving above Crystal Palace to 11th place. For Arsenal, despite missing out on all three points, the result extended their unbeaten run to nine matches. The Gunners will now focus on their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, seeking to overcome a challenging deficit. Bukayo Saka had a late opportunity to win the game, but his shot curled agonizingly wide in the final seconds.