Arsenal missed the chance to restore its six-point lead at the top of the Premier League when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford on Thursday, with Noni Madueke’s second-half header canceled out by Keane Lewis-Potter.
The hosts Brentford were the better team in the first half but were unable to capitalize on a nervous start from Arsenal, with goalkeeper David Raya having to make a sharp save from Igor Thiago.
Arsenal took the lead in the 61st minute through Madueke, who rose above Rico Henry and nodded Piero Hincapie’s ball back across goal and into the net.
Brentford were level ten minutes later when Michael Kayode’s long throw was sent to the back post, where Lewis-Potter fired a thunderous header into the top corner.
The draw was a fair result and took Arsenal to 57 points from 26 games, four ahead of Manchester City.
Brentford are seventh with 40 points, four behind Chelsea in fifth place and remain on course to qualify for European football for the first time with 12 games remaining.
GUNNERS FIGHT BACK FROM NERVOUS BEGINNINGS
Arsenal had followed a minor falter from two points from three games with back-to-back wins in the league, although Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday kept the pressure on.
The Gunners started shakily in the absence of defender William Saliba as Gabriel needlessly conceded a corner before Raya sent a backpass almost snaking under his foot and over the line.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta handed Eberechi Eze a first league start in 2026, but the England striker was anonymous and replaced at half-time by captain Martin Odegaard.
The visiting side improved after the break to take the lead when Brentford were unable to clear the lines, Hincapie’s cross from Madueke coming in past the flat-footed Caoimhin Kelleher.
Arsenal could have been out of sight when Declan Rice put the ball on a plate for Viktor Gyokeres but he was denied by Kayode’s last-ditch tackle.
Brentford equalized after Kayode’s throw-in, and Lewis-Potter’s goal changed the momentum hgtgdfgdtr20.
Thiago could have taken the win late on, but Cristhian Mosquera made a brilliant tackle. Kelleher then made a one-on-one save from Martinelli in a breathless end to the match.
Published on February 13, 2026
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