It was a game where Arsenal controlled everything… except the scoreline. A 1-1 draw with Brentford at the Emirates saw the Gunners dominate possession, rack up corners and shots, but fail to put the game away. Brentford, true to form, soaked it all up and struck at the right moment.
? Key Stats Snapshot
| Stat | Arsenal | Brentford |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 15 | 3 |
| Possession | 64% | 36% |
| xG | 0.91 | 0.51 |
| Touches in Opp. Box | 30 | 14 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 2 |
| Blocked Shots | 6 | 0 |
| Passes in Opp. Half | 56 | 31 |
? Match Momentum & xG Breakdown
Arsenal piled on the pressure with a cumulative xG of 0.91, while Brentford held their ground with a modest 0.51. The momentum chart tells the tale of a game mostly played in Brentford’s half, but with two sudden spikes – and goals – that flipped the script.
Thomas Partey opened the scoring in the 60th minute from a tight central area (xG: 0.16).
Yoane Wissa hit back just 14 minutes later, capitalizing on one of Brentford’s only high-quality chances (xG: 0.42).
Brentford didn’t need many looks – just one well-timed dagger.
? Shots & Shot Maps: One Goal Each, Very Different Journeys
Arsenal:
15 shots, 1 goal, xG: 0.91
Only 4 of those hit the target and 6 were blocked. They flooded Brentford’s box but couldn’t convert – their shot map shows a scatter of efforts across the penalty arc and flanks, with few high xG looks.
Most threatening moments came centrally, but Brentford bodies were in the way more often than not
Brentford:
3 shots, 1 goal, xG: 0.51
The definition of efficiency. One shot from outside the box, one on target, one goal. Their goal came from a classic Brentford-style direct attack – not pretty, but brutally effective.
? Possession Play & Tactical Shapes
Arsenal (64% possession):
Their pass map shows a tight triangle around Jorginho, Zinchenko, and Partey, with Tierney and Martinelli stretching the left flank.
Most buildup was methodical, driven through midfield rotations. David Raya and Saliba helped control the game from deep.
A whopping 13 corners and 86 possession phases – but not enough end product.
Brentford (36% possession):
Brentford’s map is a low-block special – Flekken, Collins, and van den Berg anchored deep passing routes.
Wide outlets like Mbeumo and Lewis-Potter stayed disconnected from the build-up, ready to pounce on long balls.
This was about survival and countering – and they executed it to perfection.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance in every category – from dribbles (33 to 8) to touches in the box – Brentford stood tall, took their one real chance, and walked away with a hard-earned point.
? Final Whistle Thoughts
This was a game of missed chances and resilience. Arsenal will rue their wastefulness – 13 corners and 15 shots for just one goal is not the ratio they need in a title race. Brentford, meanwhile, keep doing Brentford things: defending deep, attacking directly, and walking away with points they have no business getting – and yet, always seem to earn.