Arsenal Must Be Calm To Pursue Liverpool

Arsenal are now attached to Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title (Instagram/@arsenal).

JAKARTA - Arsenal showed that they could survive without Bukayo Saka who was injured when he started the year brilliantly, rising from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 on Thursday, January 2, 2025, early morning WIB.

Saka, who is arguably the most influential Arsenal player of the season, will be out for at least two months after the hamstring operation. This clearly dealt a major blow to the club's hopes of winning the title.

The visit to Brentford's dominant home game of the season is Arsenal's second test without Saka, having previously won against the relegation zone team, Ipswich Town.

The Gunners had a bad start when Bryan Mbeumo gave the hosts the lead in the 13th minute with the first attack.

Arsenal did not panic. Gabriel Jesus continued his recent brilliant performance to equalize before halftime with a header.

Mikel Arteta's team performed brilliantly in the second half. Mikel Merino put them ahead five minutes after the second half started because Brentford failed to anticipate a corner.

Three minutes later Gabriel Martinelli fired a clinical volley to put Arsenal in control.

The victory lifted Arsenal over Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, aka second with 39 points from 19 matches. Meanwhile, leaders Liverpool bagged 45 points from 18 matches.

Peace is Arsenal's key to being able to chase Liverpool with the existing conditions. At least, they have proven their composure without Saka twice.

Most recently, they showed the right reaction in a state of lagging behind. This condition assured Arsenal that they could still compete in the 2024/2025 Premier League title race.

Young players Arteta chose in the midst of a storm of injury to pillar players were also able to answer trust.

Misalnya saja Ethan Nwaneri yang berusia 17 tahun. Dia mendapat kesempatan bermain sebagai starter untuk pertama kalinya di Liga Inggris saat melawan Brentford.

"I think the team showed a lot of calm. To keep defending, keep attacking them," said Arteta, whose team is unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions.

"We can only win the next game and see what happens. It's not in our hands, but what is in our hands, we have to make sure we do," he said again.

Arsenal will not lose against a London team in 2024 and start 2025 in the same way.

Gabriel Jesus, whose name has been sticking out recently, has proven to be a mainstay on his way to the race for the league title.

The Brazilian striker has scored six goals in his last four games for Arsenal in all competitions, as many as the previous 48 matches.

"Come here and play like we did was great. Of course, the most important thing is three points."

"We did it, but the most important thing is how we reacted and we managed to do it," Jesus told TNT Sports.

In addition, Arsenal's efficiency from set pieces was again proven. Just look at the situation at the start of the second half when a corner kick caused chaos in the opponent's penalty area and Merino was able to open fire from a wild ball to become a goal.

Arsenal can take advantage of calm in the face of difficult situations and the ball dies as a weapon to keep chasing Liverpool.