Arsenal missed the opportunity to move eight points clear at the top as Ivan Toney headed in a deserved equaliser for Brentford to earn a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
The Gunners had been on course to bounce back from defeat at Everton and move well clear of their title rivals Manchester City, who can reduce the gap against Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Super Sunday before playing Arsenal on Wednesday, when Leandro Trossard tapped home just five minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Brentford had seen Rico Henry miss a golden early opportunity before Toney hit the crossbar in an impressive first-half performance which should have had them ahead at the break.
However, Thomas Frank’s spirited Bees eventually found the net, hitting back through their talisman Toney, who nodded in from close range to take a well-earned point, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 10 games, and leaving Arsenal to settle for a six-point advantage over City.
Brentford should have led in the fifth minute when Toney was released in behind Oleksandr Zinchenko and delivered a low cross to the arriving Henry, who side-footed wide when it looked easier to score.
Arsenal had another let-off just six minutes later as Bryan Mbeumo had the ball in the net, but play had already been brought to a halt – contentiously – after Toney rose to flick on a long pass.
Brentford defended superbly, let down only by their composure in the final third during the first half as Toney missed a gilt-edged chance, side-footing against the crossbar from Mbeumo’s pull back.
Sky Sports