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Merino and Saka Deliver as Arsenal Tighten Grip on Premier League Lead with Brentford Win

Arsenal reaffirmed their authority at the top of the Premier League as goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka secured a composed 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium, restoring their five-point cushion.

Mikel Arteta, managing a squad stretched by a demanding run of fixtures, made three adjustments from the side that battled to a draw against Chelsea. Ben White, Noni Madueke, and captain Martin Ødegaard all returned, and the reshuffle paid off almost instantly.

Inside 11 minutes, White’s delivery from the right met Merino—once again deployed as an emergency striker due to injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres—who guided a firm header into the corner. Remarkably, it marked Merino’s 13th goal of 2025, the highest tally of any Arsenal player this calendar year, underlining how critical he has become in the club’s improvised frontline.

Brentford nearly punished the league leaders before the interval when Kevin Schade’s header from a corner forced David Raya into a superb fingertip save that deflected the ball onto the crossbar. It was the closest the visitors came as Arsenal controlled long stretches of the match with territorial dominance and structured possession.

Saka eventually sealed the win deep into stoppage time. Released by Merino on the break, the England winger’s low strike ricocheted beyond Caoimhin Kelleher and crept over the line—Saka’s form now showing six goal involvements in his last five games. The move also capped another influential performance from Merino, who contributed both goals on the night.

The victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten streak to 18 matches in all competitions and maintained their perfect home run, now standing at eight consecutive wins. However, Arteta faced fresh concerns as both Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice left the pitch with injuries, adding to a season already marred by fitness challenges.

"We’ve asked a lot of these players in a very intense week," Arteta noted afterward, highlighting the tight turnaround between high-profile fixtures against Tottenham, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and now Brentford. Rice, he confirmed, “can walk but cannot play,” with further assessment pending in the coming days.

Brentford, meanwhile, showed flashes of promise—particularly in transitions and set-piece situations, where they remain statistically among the league’s strongest. Manager Keith Andrews opted for a back five to blunt Arsenal’s fluid attack and nearly succeeded until the late breakthrough. With only one away win all season, the Bees' struggles on the road continue to weigh heavily on their campaign.

Arsenal now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa, where maintaining rhythm while navigating mounting injuries will be paramount to their title ambitions.

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