Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says his facet lacked composure and self-discipline because the Gunners missed out on a six-point lead on the prime of the Premier League by spurning a lead in a 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Noni Madueke headed the guests in entrance within the 61st minute, just for Keane Lewis-Potter to equalise 10 minutes later following an extended throw earlier than Brentford threatened a late winner and Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli was denied in a one-on-one throughout added time.
“It’s actually tough to dominate the sport for lengthy durations as a result of Brentford are actually good,” Arteta mentioned after his facet dropped factors for the fourth time in six league matches.
“When the ball is in or across the byline, within the channel or whenever you put the ball out for a throw-in, it is sort of a on line casino.
“Something can occur and one thing actually dangerous can occur. You must navigate that and, after the primary quarter-hour, we began to dominate.”
Arsenal have the breakthrough!
Noni Madueke with a header of actual high quality 🎯@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Kpq0IWRm6X
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
How Brentford have made set items depend
Brentford’s success from set-pieces this season is little shock on condition that rookie boss Keith Andrews was their set-piece coach beneath his predecessor as supervisor, Thomas Frank.
Former Republic of Eire Underneath-21s assistant coach Stephen Rice, who turned the Bees’ new set-piece professional in August, may have been thrilled to see Sepp van den Berg flick on a throw for Lewis-Potter to attain for the seventh-placed facet, who’re firmly in competition for European qualification.
“We began the second half very well for the primary 20 or 25 minutes,” mentioned Arteta, crediting Brentford. “We scored and, from there, we lacked extra composure to keep up the extent higher, play in the precise areas and keep extra disciplined. “
Arsenal’s benefit over second-placed Manchester Metropolis is now 4 factors, with a visit to the Etihad Stadium on the horizon in April.
Brentford are stage!
A trademark lengthy throw is completed off by Keane Lewis-Potter 🎯@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/h1aqtgIh2g
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
Why did Arsenal substitute Eberechi Eze vs Brentford?
England ahead Eberechi Eze was changed by Martin Odegaard at half-time on the midfielder’s return from harm.
“We wanted a special sort of profile, particularly with the way during which Brentford have been urgent,” mentioned Arteta, discussing his resolution to modify out the participant he signed from Crystal Palace in August for an preliminary £60 million.
“We had a very good likelihood on the finish with a one-v-one for Martinelli, but it surely wasn’t meant to be.”
Arteta claimed his view on the title race has not modified over latest weeks. “You must be at your greatest in each recreation and have the luck you want in each recreation to overcome the three factors,” added the Spaniard.
You’ll be able to see stats from the Premier League match right here.
David Raya with an unbelievable save to disclaim Brentford an opener 😲@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yimW3Hdn0A
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
Brentford confirmed beginning workforce vs Arsenal
Brentford made one change from their 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday, bringing in Yehor Yarmoliuk for Jordan Henderson in midfield.
Ahead Kevin Schade was suspended and Reiss Nelson was ineligible to play in opposition to his father or mother membership, so Luka Bentt changed the winger on the bench.
Midfielders Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva had long-term accidents.
Brentford beginning XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Sepp van den Berg, Rico Henry, Dango Ouattara, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Mathias Jensen, Vitaly Janelt, Keane Lewis-Potter, Igor Thiago
Brentford substitutes: Hakon Valdimarsson, Aaron Hickey, Ethan Pinnock, Jordan Henderson, Nathan Collins, Mikkel Damsgaard, Romelle Donovan, Kaye Furo, Luka Bentt
Arsenal confirmed beginning workforce vs Brentford
Winger Bukayo Saka and midfielder Odegaard returned on the bench for Arsenal following accidents, having missed the house wins over Chelsea and Sunderland final week.
Centre-back William Saliba was not concerned in any respect because the hosts made 4 modifications from their 3-0 victory in opposition to the Black Cats on Saturday.
Cristhian Mosquera changed Saliba and Piero Hincapie got here in for full-back Riccardo Calafiori. In assault, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres supplanted Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Midfielder or ahead Mikel Merino was recovering from foot surgical procedure and winger Max Dowman was out with an ankle situation.
Arsenal beginning XI: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard
Arsenal substitutes: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Christian Norgaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly
Brentford vs Arsenal stats
- Brentford’s 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest of their earlier residence league recreation had ended a seven-match unbeaten run on the Gtech Stadium
- Because the begin of final season, they’ve solely misplaced consecutive residence league video games twice, the primary time of which was a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest adopted by a loss to Arsenal
- Their first-ever Premier League victory got here in opposition to Arsenal, of their first recreation within the competitors in August 2021
- Since then, they’re winless of their final 9 in opposition to the Gunners (D3 L6)
- One in every of their final 11 residence London derbies within the Premier League has resulted in victory (D7 L4), going winless in seven since a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in August 2024
- Igor Thiago has 9 objectives in his final 11 Premier League residence video games, netting 4 braces alongside the best way. Solely Erling Haaland (5) has scored a number of objectives in additional totally different residence matches this season
- This was Brentford’s fourth Premier League recreation ever on a Thursday – they misplaced 2-0 at Tottenham in December 2021, beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in Might 2025 and drew 0-0 with Spurs final month
- Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has received 41 of his 678 Premier League London derbies as supervisor
- Total, solely Arsene Wenger (106 from 194 video games) and Jose Mourinho (42/70) have received extra London derbies than the Spaniard
- One in every of Arsenal’s final 24 Premier League London derbies has resulted in defeat (W17 D6)
- Because the begin of 2022/23, they’ve misplaced certainly one of their 21 away video games in opposition to London sides (W14 D6)
- Though Arsenal are unbeaten of their final 13 Premier League video games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays (W9 D4), they’re and not using a win (D2 L2) in any of their final 4 on Thursdays
- Arteta’s facet had received their earlier three journeys to Brentford by an mixture rating of 7-1
What’s subsequent for these groups? Brentford, Arsenal fixtures
Brentford go to non-league Macclesfield within the FA Cup fourth spherical on Monday (19:30 GMT), a day after Arsenal host third-tier strugglers Wigan Athletic (16:30) on the similar stage of the competitors.
Arsenal are subsequent in league motion away to backside facet Wolves on Wednesday (20:00). Brentford host Brighton & Hove Albion on February 21 (15:00).
