Arsenal reclaims second place from Nottingham Forest

On New Year's Day, the final match of matchday 19 in the Premier League began. After Nottingham Forest's victory against Everton on Sunday, the Tricky Trees took second place from Arsenal. The Gunners were aiming to reclaim second place on New Year's Day. Arsenal's opponent was the well-performing Brentford.

Goals in the first half

Arsenal started the first half dominantly, although they didn't create any massive chances right away. Brentford allowed Arsenal to have possession, but during the first significant counterattack, it was the in-form Bryan Mbeumo who managed to put Brentford 1-0 up on the scoreboard. A tough blow for Arsenal, a team known for its strong defense throughout the season. After the goal, Arsenal gained more control over the ball and pushed Brentford back. With pressure from the front, they forced an error from Mbeumo near his own penalty area. This led to a ball falling to Jesus, who scored his sixth goal in three matches with a header.

Arsenal sets things straight

At the start of the second half, Arsenal quickly regained control. Mikel Merino's goal to make it 1-2 came from a well-known strength of the team: set pieces. Arsenal is famous for being incredibly strong in dead-ball situations. A corner early in the second half led to the 1-2. Just minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli scored to make it 1-3, essentially sealing the win. This goal gave Arsenal the confidence that victory was within reach. Afterward, they eased off a bit, and simply managing the game was enough for Arteta's men. With a 1-3 win, they moved back into second place, now just six points behind Liverpool. Arne Slot’s team still has an additional match to play.