On Thursday night, Arsenal missed the chance to re-establish their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League (EPL) as an impressive Brentford side held them to a 1-1 draw.

After seeing second-placed Manchester City sweep Fulham aside on Wednesday, Arsenal’s lead at the top was trimmed to just three points, but the Gunners could only improve that margin by one on a difficult night in west London.

The Gunners did not have a shot on target in the first half, despite Gabriel going close from an early corner. It was Brentford who had the best chance of the half as Igor Thiago’s header from 12 yards was superbly kept out by David Raya.

Arsenal brought on captain Martin Odegaard, back from injury, at half-time for the disappointing Eberechi Eze, and that made a difference, with the league leaders then taking the lead from their first effort on target.

READ ALSO:

Just as Bukayo Saka was ready to join the action, Noni Madueke headed Piero Hincapie’s fierce cross into the far corner.

But Brentford were not disheartened by going behind; if anything, it spurred them on. Keane Lewis-Potter should have levelled but put a free header wide from a corner.

At the other end, Michael Kayode put in a brilliant last-ditch tackle to stop Viktor Gyokeres from making it two, when Declan Rice should have shot earlier.

And those two Brentford players had a role in the equaliser. Kayode’s long throw was flicked on at the near post, with Lewis-Potter beating Odegaard to the ball at the far post to level.

And Brentford were not done there; they looked close to getting a second over Arsenal. Gabriel avoided a second yellow card for a high challenge on Dango Ouattara, with Raya tipping the resulting free-kick over.

Then came a big moment as Thiago broke clear for a one-on-one – only for Cristhian Mosquera, deputising for the ill William Saliba, to deny him with a strong tackle. Rice put in a similar last-ditch block to stop another Ouattara-led breakaway.

Neither side could secure a winner, a result that boosts Brentford’s European hopes and damages Arsenal’s challenge.