Brentford 1-3 Arsenal player ratings: Gabriel Jesus sparks Gunners comeback to retake second

The first Premier League match of 2025 was an entertaining encounter in west London, as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Brentford 3-1.

Mikel Arteta’s men entered this match, the final game of Premier League gameweek 19, in third place after being overtaken by Nottingham Forest for second. However, this victory allowed the Gunners to reclaim their position as Liverpool’s closest rivals.

The gap between them and Liverpool remains six points, although the Reds have a game in hand. Following two consecutive draws, the Gunners had lost some momentum, and it seemed that their 11th win of the season was unlikely after Bryan Mbeumo gave the hosts an early lead.

Gabriel Jesus soon equalised, and the match took a dramatic turn when Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli scored within three minutes of each other.

Brentford player ratings

Mark Flekken: 59%

It was a fundamental error from the Dutch shot-stopper who could only deflect Thomas Partey’s speculative long-range effort into Gabriel Jesus’ path. Flekken’s long passing accuracy of 31.4% was disappointing for his teammates, as he frequently gave possession back to Arsenal, continually putting Brentford on the defensive.

Keane Lewis-Potter: 62%

His adventurous spirit was illustrated by winning possession on three occasions in the middle third. However, the left-back could not progress further to create any chances and failed to win a take-on attempt.

Nathan Collins: 55%

Although he was dribbled past once, Collins often aimed to put Brentford on the front foot, completing four long passes. He made a team-high ten clearances, but one clearance fell to Martinelli, who scored Arsenal’s third goal, although he felt he was pushed out of the way by Gabriel Jesus.

Sepp van den Berg: 55%

The one-time Liverpool centre-back was notably active, winning less than half of his aerial duels (3 out of 8) while achieving a perfect success rate in ground duels. However, the Dutchman could only block Jesus’ effort as Brentford struggled to defend a corner, which fell into Merino’s path, and the Spaniard put the Gunners in front.

Mads Roerslev: 54%

Roerslev had a mixed outing. In the defensive third, he won possession five times. He registered one interception while retaining possession and won two aerial duels, but he was dribbled past twice.

Vitaly Janelt: 49%

This was pretty much an anonymous performance from Vitaly Janelt, who couldn’t register a single interception or tackle. Once the Gunners took control of the midfield battle, he seemingly drifted into the periphery.

Christian Nørgaard: 49%

Brentford’s captain received a yellow card for a tactical foul on Martin Ødegaard, his opposite number. In addition to that, Nørgaard was dribbled past twice and recorded a team-high of four unsuccessful touches, which countered his four successful passes into the final third.

Yehor Yarmoliuk: 58%

One cannot fault Yarmoluk’s exuberance—he won possession in the middle third on three occasions and recorded one interception and one successful tackle. However, his forward passing rate of just 17.24% suggests that he often chose a safety-first approach, preferring to pass the ball sideways or backwards instead of advancing it forward.

Mikkel Damsgaard: 57%

Played the pass to Bryan Mbeumo, which eventually led to Brentford taking the lead. However, since the Cameroon international needed to do more, it is not classified as an intentional assist.

Yoane Wissa: 42%

His indecision after an Arsenal corner in the second half allowed the ball to go out for another corner, leading to Mikel Merino eventually scoring and putting the Gunners in front. At the other end, Wisse registered two shots on goal, but neither were on target.

Bryan Mbeumo: 60%

Superbly cutting inside onto his left foot, he pulled a shot that beat Raya at his near post, although it was somewhat tame. Bryan Mbeumo has scored more home goals than any other Premier League player in the 2024-25 season (9).

Arsenal player ratings

David Raya: 50%

Raya vitally clawed a shot off the line in the 28th minute. His unconvincing save made this necessary, but had he not instantly made amends, this would have been a different game as Jesus equalised seconds later. However, that was the only save the Arsenal ‘keeper had to make. He completed just two long passes with 13.3% accuracy.

Riccardo Calafiori: 65%

Calafiori gave Mbeumo too much space to score his 11th-minute opener. But he was a regular roaming outlet as Arsenal chased the game, making four touches in the opponent’s box — the most of any Gunners defender. He also won a game-high nine duels, including 6/7 contested headers and two tackles.

Gabriel: 64%

Although Arsenal’s defence was rarely tested in general, Gabriel made a team-high six clearances and one key interception inside the box.

William Saliba: 63%

Brentford’s early lead made this a quiet game for Arsenal’s defence until they went ahead, with the hosts taking just four shots across the opening hour. Saliba played more passes than any Arsenal player (67). He also made a match-high 12 ball recoveries and won possession eight times in the defensive third.

Jurriën Timber: 64%

Timber made a couple of smart interceptions after Arsenal went two goals up and let Brentford have the ball (and a match-high three, overall). His booking creates a problem for Arteta, though. The right-back will now miss the Brighton game through suspension.

Mikel Merino: 72%

Merino is yet to win over Arsenal fans fully but today was a big step in the right direction. He won possession five times in the attacking third, the most of the game, and put the visitors ahead in the 51st minute.

Thomas Partey: 67%

A wall in the middle who often kept Brentford boxed in as Arsenal swarmed their defensive third at one-nil down. His snapshot on the edge of the box led to Jesus’ opener, though it doesn’t qualify as an ‘intentional assist’. Today, Partey won three tackles, the most of the game. He’s expected to next appear at right-back, replacing the suspended Timber vs Brighton.

Martin Ødegaard: 66%

His misplaced pass enabled the Brentford break from which Mbeumo opened the scoring. Like the entire left side of Arsenal’s defence, he was then too passive in his efforts to win possession back. Odegaard was a positive influence on the rest of the match, though, completing more passes in the final third (29) than anyone this evening.

Gabriel Martinelli: 73%

Martinelli created four chances this evening, the most of the match. His volleyed finish means he’s also now scored in back-to-back away games after.

Gabriel Jesus: 75%

Jesus reacted quickest to poach the equaliser after Flekken failed to parry Partey’s shot to safety. Jesus also completed four take-ons, the most of the game, and takes home Squawka’s Player of the Match rating.

Ethan Nwaneri: 66%

Nwaneri made an energetic and tidy start to his first-ever Premier League start, completing all 17 passes attempted in the first half and creating two chances. His set-piece delivery led to the scramble from which Arsenal scored their second. Minutes later, Collins failed to clear Nwaneri’s cross into the box, the ball falling to Martinelli to lash in Arsenal’s third.

How do Squawka player ratings work?

Squawka’s new player rating system is wholly stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.

We tailored each score to the players’ respective positions using extensive research and expertise. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box, and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes, etc.

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