Arsenal overcome illness against Brentford to keep title hopes alive

Key players, including Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, were unavailable, while others like Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard struggled to feature in the Premier League clash.

Speaking after the match, Arteta highlighted the difficulties his team faced. "It affected players on and off the pitch," he said. "Kai wasn't feeling well at all, so we had to send him back to London.

"It wasn't the ideal situation, but the team showed incredible resilience."

Brentford capitalised on early Arsenal errors, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring after a loose pass from Odegaard. Despite this setback, Arsenal's response was emphatic.

Gabriel Jesus levelled the score, reacting sharply to a loose ball in the box following Thomas Partey's effort.

The Gunners gained control in the second half. A corner saw Brentford's goalkeeper Mark Flekken fail to clear effectively, allowing Mikel Merino to tap in Arsenal's second.

Gabriel Martinelli sealed the win with a superb finish, controlling the ball deftly before volleying into the corner.

Arteta praised his squad's depth, noting contributions from younger players like Ethan Nwaneri, who impressed on his full debut. "We needed players to step up with Saka out, and they did just that," Arteta said.

This victory moves Arsenal to within six points of leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. With the title race heating up, Arteta's side showed their ability to grind out results, even under challenging circumstances.

"We've adapted our style to be more effective," Arteta added. "It's not always pretty, but it gets results, and that's what matters."

Arsenal's resilience and tactical discipline have put them firmly in contention, demonstrating the grit required to challenge Liverpool for the title.

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