EPL: Arsenal Edge Brentford 2-0, Gunners Extend Lead at Top of Premier League

Gunners secure 2-0 win, extend lead to 5 points

Arsenal beat Brentford 2-0, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 5 points. Bukayo Saka scores late winner.

Arsenal maintained pressure, with Caoimhin Kelleher making crucial saves to deny Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka...

Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brentford, extending their unbeaten home Premier League record to eight matches (W7, D1). This victory moves them five points clear at the top of the table.

Mikel Arteta's decision to rest key players didn't hinder the Gunners, as they opened the scoring in just 11 minutes. Mikel Merino headed home Ben White's cross, marking his second consecutive goal. Brentford put up a strong fight, but Arsenal's defense held firm, with David Raya making a crucial save to deny Kevin Schade.

Bukayo Saka sealed the win in stoppage time, scoring his 50th Premier League goal. The victory showcases Arsenal's squad depth, with Arteta praising their ability to adapt to injuries and rotations.

Noni Madueke's clever flick set up Ben White on the overlap, and White's lifted cross found Mikel Merino, who headed the ball into the ground and over the line, scoring Arsenal's first goal.

Madueke continued to cause trouble, working the space to get a close-range shot, but Caoimhin Kelleher made a great save to beat away the effort. Brentford responded with a bright period, and David Raya had to make a spectacular save, tipping Kevin Schade's header from a corner onto the crossbar.

Brentford,  “The Bees,” had gained momentum in the game, but Arsenal maintained their attacking threat leading up to halftime. Rico Henry made two crucial interventions to deny Noni Madueke scoring opportunities. First, Henry slid in to block a low cross from Declan Rice, preventing Madueke from scoring. Then, Henry made a timely challenge to stop Madueke from shooting inside the penalty area.

🔴 @Arsenal regain their five-point advantage at the top of the table 👏 pic.twitter.com/p4CzdPO3xk

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 3, 2025

Brentford gained momentum after the restart, intensifying the tension at the Emirates as Igor Thiago, the PL's second-top scorer, entered the game alongside two other changes with just one goal separating the teams after an hour. Mikel Arteta quickly responded by bringing on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, helping Arsenal regain control. Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice tested Brentford's goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher with shots from range, and Rice's effort almost led to a second goal, but Mikel Merino's follow-up shot went wide.

Arsenal maintained pressure, with Caoimhin Kelleher making crucial saves to deny Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka. However, Saka redeemed himself, scoring a late goal as a substitute, beating Kelleher to seal the win.

This victory extends Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points, with just one loss in the league (W10, D3). Mikel Arteta's unbeaten run against Brentford stretches to nine matches (W7, D2), while Brentford remains mid-table, struggling in London derbies with only four wins in 24 matches (D6, L13).