Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that his team’s hopes of clinching the Premier League title have taken a significant hit, admitting the chances are now “unlikely” following a frustrating 1-1 draw at home against Brentford. Despite taking the lead in the second half, the Gunners were unable to hold on, allowing the visitors to come back and snatch a point at the Emirates Stadium.
There was an air of optimism among Arsenal fans after their emphatic midweek triumph over European champions Real Madrid, but Brentford were determined to dampen the mood. The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute when Declan Rice surged forward with one of his signature driving runs before setting up Thomas Partey to slot home the opener, briefly reigniting hopes of closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool.
However, those hopes were dashed when Yoane Wissa struck in the 74th minute, earning Brentford a deserved equaliser. The draw leaves Liverpool with a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table to 13 points if they beat West Ham. Arne Slot’s men now require just nine points from their final seven fixtures to secure the title.
Reflecting on the result and its implications, Arteta admitted: “What we wanted today was to improve our chances of truly competing for the Premier League title. But with this result, it’s now less likely that we’ll achieve that goal.”
