Lacazette wrestled away from the ball, referee plays the advantage and Odegaard is clean through on goal. It’s a weak curling effort, Raya tips it away. Pepe is following up and looks like he might have a tap-in, but the defending is brilliant to close him down.
Goalscorer Smith Rowe is off, on comes Pepe. So impressive during the Africa Cup of Nations, can Pepe bring that form to north London? Baptiste sends a ball over the the top, Mbeumo with a lovely touch to bring it down but Gabriel is quickly across and he’s strong enough to win it back.
Arsenal have just dropped off a bit and Brentford, for the first time, sense they could get back into this. Arteta turns to the crowd and urges them to raise the volume. Smith Rowe has been brilliant on his return to the starting lineup.
Lovely skill to get free in the box, quickly closed down though and it’s an Arsenal corner. Once again though it comes to nothing. Ball played in behind, Mbeumo would have been clean through if his touch was better but he couldn’t take it in his stride.
Away team have been second best by a margin this afternoon, but they are still only one goal down. Could still be a nervy conclusion at the Emirates. Not a huge amount happening in the match now, which Arsenal won’t mind too much.
?⚽️ | BUKAYO SAKA WITH A BEAUTIFUL FINISH! Arsenal 2 – 0 Brentford pic.twitter.com/kGjZt1H1de
— Football For You (@FootbaIlForYou) February 19, 2022