IDEAL TONIC FOR ARTETA

Bug-hit Gunners roar back as quick double floors Bees

- Jon West

ARSENAL shrugged off a bug to get the new year off to a healthy start.

Sickness in the camp prevented Kai Havertz from taking part but some ill-judged Brentford defending helped Mikel Arteta's men to a comeback victory.

Bryan Mbeumo fired the Bees ahead early on but Gabriel Jesus continued his scoring streak to level before the break.

Two goals in three minutes early in the second period, from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli, gave the injury-hit hosts too much to do, and pushed Arsenal into second in the Premier League to sit six points behind leaders Liverpool.

Brentford had hardly been out of their own half before grabbing a 13th-minute lead with some help from the Gunners.

An uncharacteristically loose pass from Martin Odegaard was seized upon by Mikkel Damsgaard. The Dane sent Mbeumo racing through on the right, and Riccardo Calafiori allowed the forward to cut inside too easily and tee up a shot with his preferred left foot.

Goalkeeper David Raya was not blameless either, being beaten at his near post.