Arsenal’s Mixed Emotions After Draw Against Brentford

omidbasir- Gabriel was booked after committing a foul on Outtara as he advanced towards goal for Keith Andrews’ side, following Keane Lewis-Potter’s equalizer to Noni Madueke’s header. As a result, Arsenal now holds a mere four-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.

Goalkeeper David Raya has urged the team to remain united, despite fans expressing disappointment over Gabriel not receiving a red card for his foul. He stated to reporters, “We are disappointed with just a point. We have to stick together. It’s a challenging venue, but we remain in a promising position and prepare for what’s next.”

He continued, “We controlled most of the first half until they gained momentum. We managed to regain our composure and scored in the second half, which I thought would be sufficient, but they posed a threat during set pieces, leading to our concession. We had opportunities to secure the win, but unfortunately, we did not capitalize on them.”

Regarding the title race, he emphasized, “Our position is still strong. Our focus needs to be on ourselves. With the FA Cup approaching on Sunday, we will regroup for Wednesday’s match.”

Fans expressed their disbelief that Gabriel was not penalized, given the nature of the foul. One supporter remarked, “Gabriel was already on a yellow card yet avoided a second booking for this reckless foul. Such decisions can influence title outcomes; every call is significant when the margins are so narrow.”

Another fan referenced Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, currently suspended for a similar foul, stating, “Romero receives a ten-game ban for what Gabriel did.”

Comments continued with critiques of the referee’s decision: “Gabriel escapes a second yellow. That’s an atrocious decision from the referee,” remarked one fan, while another added, “This is clearly a second yellow for Gabriel; how does this go unpunished?”

Mikel Arteta’s squad has now secured only two victories in their last five outings, recording draws against Brentford and Nottingham Forest, coupled with a loss to Manchester United. Their recent successes came against Leeds and Sunderland.

Midfielder Declan Rice shared insights with BBC Sport, stating, “The match unfolded in phases. They controlled the first 20 minutes, while we finished the first half strongly, beginning the second half well before they gained the upper hand. We struggled to maintain control after our goal.”

He added, “Throughout this journey, it is unrealistic to maintain peak performance for the entire season; our goal is to perform at our best consistently. This season has been a rollercoaster, and we must not be naive about its challenges. Week after week, we compete against the top teams, and we must continue to push ourselves, focusing on what we can control.”

Rice concluded, “We need to tune out external distractions, and we’ve managed to do that effectively. While discussions about the title and Arsenal intensify, our group remains calm. I recognize Brentford’s capabilities; they are one of the league’s strongest teams, as their recent form indicates. While it’s a point gained in our journey, we aimed for victory.”

Arsenal is set to face Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend, followed by a match against Wolves in the Premier League.