We continued our preparations for the restart of the Premier League season against Brentford at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, losing 3-2.
Having won 6-0 against Charlton in a behind-closed doors friendly on Saturday afternoon, Mikel Arteta’s side this time faced the promotion-chasing Bees.
Our first chance of the game came when Nicolas Pepe swung in a cross from the right, only for Bukayo Saka’s contact to not prove substantial enough to find the net.
Next it was Joe Willock’s turn to go close from a cross, but he was unable to get the right contact to convert from Kieran Tierney’s cross.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then cut in from the left before stinging the palms of the Brentford goalkeeper.
We broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval, with a low ball across the edge of the box finding Willock, who coolly slotted home.
Pepe went close to doubling our advantage when he hit the post with seconds remaining of the first half.
Mikel Arteta made five changes at the interval, with David Luiz, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matteo Guendouzi, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette all coming on.
Bernd Leno would soon pull off an impressive save to deny Shandon Baptiste, before Shkodran Mustafi went close at the other end with a header from a corner.
Maitland-Niles and Lacazette then almost replicated the latter’s strike against Charlton, only for the France international to fire over.
Tarique Fosu levelled the scores with just under 20 minutes remaining when he sent a powerful rising strike past Emi Martinez.
We hit back straight away, with a neat swivel from Lacazette working the space for a low left-footed finish that beat goalkeeper Luke Daniels.
Shortly after, the visitors drew level again. Lacazette was robbed of possession in his own half before Halil Dervisoglu was sent through to send a low strike inside the far post.
The turnaround was complete for the visitors just moments from the final whistle, when Baptiste converted after Brentford forced a turnover in possession.
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First half XI: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Pablo Mari, Tierney; Willock, Ceballos, Saka; Pepe, Nketiah, Aubameyang
Second half XI: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, David Luiz, Tierney; Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Ozil; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Saka
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Subs:
60 – Martinez for Leno
60 – Sokratis for Bellerin
60 – Holding for Mustafi
60 – Kolasinac for Tierney
60 – Nelson for Aubameyang
60 – Martinelli for Saka
85 – Coyle for Nelson
Credit: www.arsenal.com
