Brentford manager Thomas Frank did not offer too many solutions in his post-match interview, he simply pointed to the way his side failed to handle the big moments in their defeat to Arsenal.

He did, however, offer hope to Arsenal fans that Mikel Arteta's side can take the title race "right to the end" if they continue to pick up points in the manner they did at the Community Stadium.

"The big moments we didn't take them well enough today, especially the defensive moments," he said.

"It's a long season, I understand why Arne Slot is saying 'no we haven't won anything yet' because he is not stupid, he is clever. He knows we have only played half of the season. Liverpool haven't had a dip yet, I'm not saying it will come but that will most likely come.

"Arsenal, I think, are picking up points when they are not fully firing, even today, in three big moments of the game they were just like boom and finished the game off.

"They have so many good players, so I think this will be right to the end."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Brentford Community Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

While Arsenal continue to pick up points when potentially not at their best, Brentford's source of points - their formidable early-season home form - has started to dry up.

Brentford have now lost back-to-back games at their Community Stadium - albeit against top-three sides Nottingham Forest and Arsenal - and were flat after going behind on this occasion.

Bryan Mbeumo continues to enjoy an impressive campaign. Only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak have scored more than the Cameroon international in the top flight this season.

But the defence were slow to react to the first and third goals, allowing Arsenal attackers to pounce on loose balls, while goalkeeper Mark Flekken was too weak in his attempted punch ahead of the second.

Only the Bees and Ipswich are yet to keep a home clean sheet in the league this season.

It means Brentford have now won just one of their past seven matches in all competitions, and Thomas Frank needs to find a solution quickly to stop his side sliding into mid-table obscurity.

Henry Winter
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal have a formidable team ahead of them so they cannot slip up and I think they showed last night that they have resilience.

The most exciting thing from their perspective is probably the performance of Ethan Nwaneri - what a player he is. Look, nobody can replace Bukayo Saka but he was fantastic down the right last night.

There was a balance to the attack in the absence of Saka. Gabriel Martinelli played on the left, Jesus in the middle and [Martin] Odegaard slightly off and then everything came back to Nwaneri and he was terrific.

Image source, Getty Images

The mindgames have started everyone...and it's only 2 January!

Image source, Getty Images

Henry Winter made reference to Arsenal's set-piece record there.

Well 'set-piece again ole ole' was the chant from the away end at the Gtech Community Stadium as Mikel Merino fired home Arsenal's second of the evening following a scramble from a corner.

The goal was, incredibly, the Gunners' 24th from a corner in the league since the start of the 2023-24 season. That's more than any other team across Europe's top divisions.

Closest behind them are Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach with 19, while the nearest to that number in the Premier League are Manchester City and West Ham, both with 16.

Mikel Arteta's side have found the net 32 times from set-pieces (excluding penalties) in that same timeframe and that equates to a whopping 25.4% of their total goals scored in the league.

Henry Winter
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 Live

Gabriel Jesus has had a few wobbles and a few injuries. People have been debating his best position and debating whether Arsenal need a centre-forward but he scored a poacher's goal last night.

Arsenal need the scrappy goals as well as the well worked goals and set-pieces.

Jesus is a confidence player. He had one goal in 20 and now has six in his last four games, so the run of starts helps him.

I don't think Mikel Arteta will go into the market. Who are you going to find who is a top quality centre-forward who is going to be available for the type of budget Arsenal will be looking at? They aren't going to get Alexander Isak out of Newcastle. I think Arteta will persist with Jesus.

Image source, Getty Images

Before Arsenal's EFL Cup quarter-final victory over Crystal Palace on 18 December, Gabriel Jesus had one goal in 20 appearances for Arsenal.

Since then, Jesus has six in four, as many as in his previous 48 games. That means a remarkable 23% of his goals for the club have come over the past two weeks.

It has been an extraordinary, timely and welcome transformation, as Arsenal look to stay on the tail of leaders Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

"It is a quality of the team to share the goals," said Mikel Arteta. "They [Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli] are so consistent in the way they train and behave."

Josh is adding his name to the "Arsenal need a striker" ranks...

Many have said it before that Arsenal need a "world-class striker" to mount a serious title challenge. Alan from Edinburgh repeated that call earlier this morning, but could an in-form Gabriel Jesus provide the firepower many believe to have been missing from the Gunners line-up?

Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta heralded the win at Brentford with more than a hint of relief after being forced to leave out a handful of players because of illness or injury.

Those who came in were up to the task against a Brentford side that had lost just one and won seven of their previous nine matches at home in the Premier League this season.

"It is a big win, they are a really good side, very well coached and they have been exceptional at home," said Arteta.

"When you go a goal down very early in the game it becomes a mountain to climb, but the team was very patient and in the end we were rewarded."

On being forced to leave out Kai Havertz because of illness and start Declan Rice on the bench to protect him from a niggling injury: "We had a few that weren't feeling great so we had to make a few changes, but it doesn't matter, whoever we bring in they are ready. They are ready to perform."

On whether Arsenal can challenge Liverpool for the title: "We can only win our next match and see what happens. It is not in our hands. So, what is in our hands, let's make sure that we do it."

Image source, Getty Images

When Bukayo Saka limped off in the 24th minute against Crystal Palace on 21 December, there were immediate worries about where the source of goals would come from for Arsenal.

The 23-year-old has been an extremely important cog in Mikel Arteta's attack, providing five goals and 10 assists in the opening 16 Premier League fixtures.

But, those around him have stepped up. Kai Havertz (2), Gabriel Martinelli (2), Gabriel Jesus (1), Declan Rice (1) and Mikel Merino (1) have all found the net in his absence, while it has also allowed teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri to flourish - earning his first Premier League start against Brentford and filling in on the right in style.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Brentford Community Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

On 28 minutes, Arsenal's former Brentford keeper David Raya allowed another Bryan Mbeumo shot to squirm through his fingers and had to acrobatically dive back to claw the ball off the line.

Barely a minute later, Gabriel Jesus equalised. Such are the tight margins in the Premier League.

And when margins are tight, set pieces can make all the difference. Arsenal, coached by Nicolas Jover, have relied on set plays at key moments all season and their goal from a corner five minutes after half-time proved the turning point.

The corner was taken by Ethan Nwaneri, who also provided the cross which eventually led to Arsenal's third. While some senior Gunners struggled, their youngest player seemed nerveless and provided the moments of quality needed to keep their title drive motoring.

Arsenal

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Brentford Community Stadium

Arsenal came from behind to beat Brentford in the first Premier League fixture of 2025 and boost their title hopes.

Bryan Mbeumo put the hosts ahead, but Gabriel Jesus equalised with his sixth goal in four games.

Quickfire strikes from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli then ensured Arsenal left west London with all three points.

It was vindication for manager Mikel Arteta, who named a changed side with Kai Havertz left out due to illness while 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri made his first Premier League start.

Arsenal are back up to second, six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, while Brentford stay 12th.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Before we bring you reaction to Arsenal's win over Brentford, just a reminder that you can get all of the latest transfer gossip in BBC Sport's daily column.

Title challengers Liverpool and Arsenal feature heavily in today's edition, as do Ruben Amorim's struggling Manchester United:

Manchester United will try to sign Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26, from Sporting this month in a bid to save their season, but a deal is expected to cost £80m. (Mirror), external

Real Madrid remain on track to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer on a free transfer, with the 26-year-old looking to leave Liverpool. The La Liga club want the England defender to sign a pre-contract agreement quickly to avoid the possibility of him changing his mind. (Relevo - in Spanish), external

But Liverpool's resolve to keep Alexander-Arnold for the rest of this season will be tested by a second approach from Real Madrid in January. (Times - subscription required), external

Barcelona sporting director Deco's eagerness to sign Liverpool's Colombian winger Luis Diaz has been given a boost, with the 27-year-old unhappy that talks have not started over an improved contract at Anfield. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Arsenal lead the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt's Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, 25, amid interest from Liverpool, Paris St-Germain and AC Milan. (GiveMeSport), external

The Gunners have considered a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, but are unwilling to pay more than £25m for the 27-year-old England international. (Football Transfers), external

As well as your January transfers wish list, we would also like to know if you believe Arsenal can upset the odds to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Send us your thoughts via:

• X using #bbcfootball
• WhatsApp on 03301231826
• Or text us on 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

And remember to include your name.

Thanks.

The latest set of predictions from Opta's Supercomputer show that this is Liverpool's title to lose.

Arne Slot's side are being given an 89.9% chance of winning the Premier League.

Only Arsenal are given any reasonable hope of overturning their six-point lead, with a 9.5% chance of making it third-time lucky after missing out to Manchester City the past two seasons.

Remember, while their title rivals have reached the halfway point, Liverpool still have one more game to play after the Merseyside derby at Everton was postponed last month due to bad weather...

Image source, Opta

Here's an early look at the Premier League table following last night's win for the Gunners.

It looks pretty good for leaders Liverpool doesn't it - can Mikel Arteta's Arsenal mount a serious challenge?

Good morning folks.

A very happy new year from everyone on the BBC Sport football news team.

Please stick with us for the next few hours as we assess Arsenal's 3-1 victory at Brentford on New Year's Day before delving into the latest transfer gossip.

With the January window now open, we would love to know which players are on your wish list and who are you desperate to keep?

As we know, the football world just keeps on turning, so, with the next Premier League game week starting on Saturday, we will also keep you up to speed with the latest preview news conferences.

Image source, Getty Images