Arsenal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, and Mikel Arteta did not hide his frustration after the final whistle.
The Gunners showed flashes of dominance, especially after the opening quarter of an hour, but ultimately lacked the clinical edge required to secure all three points in west London.
Noni Madueke powered home a header to give Arsenal the advantage, yet Keane Lewis-Potter responded for the hosts to ensure the spoils were shared.
Reflecting on the contest, Arteta admitted the game unfolded in distinct phases.
“Well, I think the game had different moments. The first 10-15 minutes we lacked certain composure to dominate the game better,” said Arteta.
“I think after that we started to play much more in our way and started to play in their half and generated some good situations without really having clear-cut chances.”
As momentum swung, Arsenal began to impose themselves, particularly after the restart.
“The second half, the way we started, we really looked to threat. The way we combined, the way we threat constantly their backline and the goalkeeper, it was much better.
“Again, without really hitting the target enough times or finishing enough actions, and then we scored the goal and the game was under total control.”
However, as Arteta pointed out, controlling Brentford requires more than possession and structure.In typical fashion, the Bees capitalised on a chaotic moment: a throw-in sequence that shifted the tide.
“But against them, that’s not enough, because they just need somebody making a foul that is unnecessary. A ball in the channel, they push you. The clearance is not good, ball goes for a throw-in. Then you have to pray, because they are exceptional at what they do.
“The chaos that is in and around that ball is very, very difficult to defend, and we said, you want to win here, you’re going to have to defend the box with your life, and you’re going to have to clear the ball, because there’s a lot of people there, and if you don’t do that, it’s very difficult for you to win the game.
“We haven’t done it in one of the actions. Credit to them as well for that, and then the game became more open, more transitional.”
From there, the encounter turned into an end-to-end affair. Brentford carved out a major opportunity, only for Declan Rice to produce a crucial late clearance. At the other end, Arsenal had their own decisive moment; Gabriel Martinelli racing through one-on-one.
“They had one of the big chances and the clearance of Declan [Rice] just at the end, and we have two very good counters and probably the biggest chance of the game when Martinelli is 1v1 with the keeper to win it.”
When asked whether Martinelli had to convert, Arteta was direct.
“You have to. It’s football, and the keeper, as well, can make the decision and the action that he did.
“But if you want to win here, you’re going to have to be really ruthless in both boxes, and today we lacked that.”
The Gunners’ control was evident in spells, yet their failure to be clinical at both ends proved costly.
As the title race intensifies, Arteta’s message is clear: dominance must translate into decisive action in both penalty areas.
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