Brentford hold Arsenal as league title race tightens

Arsenal did the difficult part, but then faltered at what they're supposed to be best at, making this title challenge that bit more testing.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Brentford 1
Lewis-Potter (71)

Arsenal 1
Madueke (61)

AT THE GTECH COMMUNITY STADIUM

Except, much of that was down to Brentford. Keith Andrews's side beat - or perhaps drew with - Arsenal at their own game.

Brentford fully deserved Keane Lewis-Potter's set-piece equaliser, and the 1-1 draw ultimately leaves Arsenal's lead down to just four points.

They even looked likelier to win it at the end, Gabriel Martinelli's late chance only came after Arsenal required crucial interventions from Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice.

That is why Brentford are still seen as one of the Premier League's acid tests, perhaps even more testing than ever before. It is the most classic battle, the one teams have to really work through.

Failing to win this fixture isn't a sign you won't win the title, but it's a match that goes some way to showing your mettle and how you can really go through the gears in a title race.

Arsenal's minimalism wasn't enough here. It may end up serving as another warning.

Mikel Arteta will nevertheless be most frustrated that it should have been enough. Arsenal had the lead through Noni Madueke's fine header, only for the team that normally shuts down games to see themselves opened up again and again.

Brentford just forced them open. On conceding the goal, they immediately upped it in so many ways. It's rare to see Arsenal so threatened on set-pieces.

Maybe part of that was down to the absence of William Saliba.

The Gunners didn't get going until it was too late in the game, allowing Brentford that margin.