FIVE things we learned as Arsenal fail to restore six-point lead at the top

Football writer Tom Hancock assesses Arsenal's performance in the 1-1 draw at Brentford and what it means for the Premier League title race.

Arsenal’s open-play struggles continue

Not for the first time this season, Arsenal found it hard to carve out clear-cut opportunities from open play. Of the 0.60 Expected Goals (xG) they mustered – their third-lowest total in a Premier League match this season – almost a third came from set-pieces.

Noni Madueke’s deadlock-breaking goal may have come from open play, but the Gunners remain rather reliant on scoring via dead-ball situations.

Madueke’s superb header took the leaders to 50 Premier League goals for the campaign, but 42 per cent of those have come from set-pieces – as has 30.30 per cent of their xG total.

Arsenal have scored a league-high 21 set-piece goals this season, but did their difficulty in breaking Brentford down indicate an overreliance in that area?

By contrast, title rivals Manchester City have amassed 83.3 per cent of their 54 league goals in 2025/26 from open play, with set-pieces accounting for 17.4 per cent of their overall xG.

The stylistic difference between the two sides helps make this re-ignited title race so exciting, but could it ultimately come down to what wins out between Arsenal’s unquestionable set-piece prowess and Man City’s ability to score at will from open play?

Saliba’s absence leaves leaders vulnerable

William Saliba missed the trip to west London through illness and it seemed to affect his regular centre-back partner, Gabriel.

Booked for sliding in late on the dangerous Igor Thiago – whose physicality he struggled with throughout – and arguably fortunate not to be sent off for a foul on Dango Ouattara in the second half, Gabriel looked less assured than usual without Saliba by his side.

Stats with and without Saliba

The pair are among the Premier League’s standout defenders, and their axis at the heart of the Arsenal defence will be crucial to the Gunners’ title chances.

That being said, Saliba’s stand-in, Cristhian Mosquera, certainly stepped up to the plate on a challenging night under the lights at the Gtech Community Stadium, the Spaniard recovering brilliantly to make a crucial last-ditch block to deny Thiago a possible Brentford winner.

Watch: The late chaos including Mosquera's block

Madueke's aerial threat can be his point of difference

Any Premier League centre-forward would have been proud of the header Madueke produced to open the scoring.

Taller than many other wingers in the division, standing at 6ft 0in tall, the former Chelsea man made full use of his height to stretch and meet Piero Hincapie’s cross from the left.

But while it was undoubtedly a finish of high quality, it was only Madueke's second league goal of the season.

Granted, the 23-year-old only averages just over 45 minutes per Premier League appearance for the Gunners, but his UEFA Champions League numbers point to a player capable of higher output in the goals department.

Madueke has found the net three times in Europe at an average of around once every 100 minutes – compared to his average of a goal every 386 minutes in the league.

Gyokeres falters again versus a top-half side

With Kai Havertz expected to miss Arsenal's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers next Wednesday through injury, the onus is on Viktor Gyokeres to spearhead the Gunners’ attack, after a night in which he failed to produce a single shot.

The Swede has enjoyed a strong start to 2026, notching six goals in 11 games in all competitions, but questions remain around his ability to do it against the league’s stronger teams. Of his eight Premier League goals so far, seven have come against sides currently in the bottom half of the table.

Perhaps it’s a good thing, then, that the Gunners’ next two league fixtures see them travel to bottom side Wolves and arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are languishing in 16th place.

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Brentford cement their European credentials

With their latest impressive performance, Brentford showed why they’re genuine contenders to qualify for Europe – something they’ve never achieved in their 137-year history.

Once again harnessing the power of the Gtech Community Stadium and its fervent atmosphere, Keith Andrews’ men made it 25 Premier League points from a possible 39 at home this season – leaving them with the division’s sixth-best home record. Only Man City and Nottingham Forest have won at the Gtech in 2025/26.

As expected, Brentford threatened primarily through Thiago – who spurned two big chances to add to his tally of 17 Premier League goals – and the laser-guided long throw-ins of Michael Kayode, the ensuing chaos from which Keane Lewis-Potter took full advantage to bag the Bees’ fourth goal from throw-ins this season, the joint-most in the league alongside Burnley.

Watch: Lewis-potter's goal

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