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Last updated on 7 minutes ago.From the section Premier League
Arsenal secured a second successive win to remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualificationSecond-half strikes from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka lifted Arsenal to victory over Brentford as the Gunners moved to within a point of the top four.
England international Smith Rowe ran at the Brentford defence and curled a measured right-footed shot past David Raya to send his side on their way to a second successive win.
His goal came following a first half in which Arsenal had two penalty appeals turned down.
Bukayo Saka capped a satisfying afternoon for Mikel Arteta's side when he slotted home, although Brentford felt they should have had a free-kick for a foul on Pontus Jansson in the build-up.
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Brentford were superb when they beat Arsenal on the opening night of the season and, while Christian Norgaard struck an injury-time consolation, the Bees' winless run extended to seven games.
Victory moves Arsenal level on points with fifth-placed West Ham, who drew at Newcastle earlier on Saturday, and within a point of Manchester United in fourth with two games in hand on the Red Devils.
Frustration turns to elation for Gunners
Having not played since beating Wolves on 10 February, Arsenal started brightly as Alexandre Lacazette had a goal disallowed for offside with Martin Odegaard and Saka both firing wide.
The main talking point from the first half, however, centred on Jon Moss after the referee waved away the home side's appeals following Kristoffer Ajer's challenge on the French striker in the box.
The Gunners had another shout for a spot-kick when Cedric Soares' shot struck Yoane Wissa's arm, but again it was turned down following a VAR check.
But increasing frustration turned to elation three minutes after the restart when Smith Rowe collected Lacazette's pass and drove at the visiting defence before finishing confidently.
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Arsenal
Squad number32Player nameRamsdale- Squad number17Player nameCédric Soares
- Squad number4Player nameWhite
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
- Squad number3Player nameTierney
- Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number34Player nameXhaka- Squad number7Player nameSaka
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
Squad number9Player nameLacazette
- Squad number19Player namePépé
- Squad number30Player nameNketiah
Brentford
Squad number1Player nameRaya
Squad number20Player nameAjer
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Squad number7Player nameCanós
Squad number10Player nameDasilva
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number3Player nameHenry
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 17Cédric Soares
- 4White
- 6GabrielBooked at 86mins
- 3Tierney
- 5Partey
- 34Xhaka
- 7Saka
- 8Ødegaard
- 10Smith RoweSubstituted forPépéat 75'minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 16Holding
- 18Tomiyasu
- 19Pépé
- 20Tavares
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 82Hutchinson
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Raya
- 20Ajer
- 18JanssonBooked at 81mins
- 5Pinnock
- 7CanósSubstituted forGhoddosat 84'minutes
- 10DasilvaSubstituted forBaptisteat 68'minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 8JensenSubstituted forJaneltat 44'minutes
- 3Henry
- 19Mbeumo
- 11Wissa
Substitutes
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 26Baptiste
- 27Janelt
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
- 36Stevens
- 40Fernández
- 43Young-Coombes
Live Text
Match ends, Arsenal 2, Brentford 1.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Brentford 1.
Offside, Brentford. Vitaly Janelt tries a through ball, but Yoane Wissa is caught offside.
VAR Decision: Goal Arsenal 2-1 Brentford (Christian Nørgaard).
Goal! Arsenal 2, Brentford 1. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer following a set piece situation.
Attempt blocked. Vitaly Janelt (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal).
Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
Yoane Wissa (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Thomas Partey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution, Brentford. Saman Ghoddos replaces Sergi Canós.
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
Pontus Jansson (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Arsenal 2, Brentford 0. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thomas Partey following a fast break.
Hand ball by Kieran Tierney (Arsenal).
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Christian Nørgaard.
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