Arsenal Cruise Past Brentford 2-0 as Merino Shines with Goal and Assist; Rice and Mosquera Forced Off Injured

Wednesday 3 December 2025 

Arsenal Power Past Brentford 2-0 as Merino and Saka Deliver — But Injury Concerns for Rice

Arsenal claimed a comfortable 2–0 win over Brentford on Matchweek 14, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 matches and tightening their grip on the top of the Premier League table.

Mikel Arteta’s side came into the match flying high with 9 wins, 3 draws, and just 1 loss from their opening 13 league fixtures, building their title bid on the league’s most disciplined defensive structure. For this home clash, Arteta named Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard in his starting XI as the Gunners pushed to maintain momentum.

■ Merino heads Arsenal into an early lead

Arsenal dominated possession from kickoff, and it didn’t take long for the breakthrough to arrive.
In the 11th minute, Ben White switched play wide before combining sharply with Noni Madueke, who slipped a clever back-heel return pass into White’s path. His driven cross found Mikel Merino, who rose highest to guide a header into the net for the opening goal.

The Gunners recorded eight shots in the first half alone, keeping Brentford pinned deep and struggling to escape their own half.

■ Arsenal control the second half — but miss chances to kill the game

The hosts continued to dictate the tempo after the break.
In the 69th minute, Arsenal produced a flowing passing sequence just outside the box, freeing Rice for a right-footed strike. His powerful shot was parried by the goalkeeper, and Merino reacted quickest to the rebound — but couldn’t keep his footing and failed to convert what looked like a certain goal.

■ Double injury blow: Mosquera and Rice forced off

Brentford had already lost defender Christian Mosquera to injury before halftime, and Arsenal soon suffered a setback of their own.
In the 82nd minute, Rice sat down on the pitch clutching his right calf and was unable to continue, with Viktor Gyökeres coming on in his place. The midfielder had been one of Arsenal’s standout performers on the night, making the injury all the more concerning for Arteta.

■ Super-sub Saka seals the win

Despite the injury scare, Arsenal added a second goal in stoppage time.
Merino threaded a perfect through ball behind the Brentford back line, and substitute Bukayo Saka finished clinically to secure the three points and put the result beyond doubt.

■ Final score

Scorer
Arsenal 2–0 Brentford

Scorers
11’ Mikel Merino (ARS)
90+1’ Bukayo Saka (ARS)

With another convincing display, Arsenal continue their pursuit of their first league title since the 2003–04 Invincibles season.
Next up, they travel to face Aston Villa on December 6, while Brentford head to Tottenham.

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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13477888/arsenal-2-0-brentford-mikel-merino-and-bukayo-saka-on-target-as-gunners-reopen-five-point-gap-at-top?utm_source=chatgpt.com

“Social Media Reactions”

Arsenal Fans

CrimsonFieldRunner
Huge win today — love to see the boys pull it off.

mberSkyVoyager
Alright!! They really fought through a brutal schedule and earned this one.

LoftRiverJackal
Victory for the Merino FC faithful. Beautiful stuff.

SlateHarborWing
We closed it out! Hoping Mosquera and Rice only picked up something minor.

NorthRidgeFalcon
Brentford were surprisingly solid. Tough team to grind down.

CopperGateNomad
Time to build Merino a statue. Man’s on another level.

HollowStoneRacer
Pretty tough match overall, but in the end it looked like a clean win. Let Merino rest already.

FrostValePilot
Midweek fixtures are exhausting everyone. Merino though… absolute machine.

GraniteMesaRunner
In the end, a clean sheet feels huge. Merino basically dragged us there — absolute hero.

IronValeStrider
Really worried about Rice. Playing away at Villa without him is going to be brutal.

HarborDustPilot
Apart from the concussion check on Hincapié, the second half barely stopped. Meanwhile Chelsea rolled around all game and somehow only got four minutes added… funny how that works.

CraterLineWasp
I doubt this ref crew even measures added time properly. Feels like they just go with whatever mood they’re in.

SilentForgeNomad
Schedule is ruthless right now, but all we can do is keep stacking wins. The players must be exhausted — hope the injured guys make it back soon.

RidgehavenFalco
Calafiori was ridiculously smooth today. Still not sure what position he’s actually playing though.

ollowPeakStriker
We struggled a lot, but closing it out 2–0 is massive. Without Raya’s save on that corner, the whole match could’ve flipped. That was the turning point.

RustlaneVoyager
Tough situation all around, but huge win. Really hoping Mosquera’s okay.

MetroCliffRunner
A midweek clean sheet is huge. Please let Saliba and Trossard get back soon.

HarborCrestFalcon
Hincapié was my personal MOTM. He’s great at center-back, but I really want to see him more out wide.

SilentMesaDrifter
Perfect result, but the injuries and fatigue are getting scary. You can literally see the team wearing down.

GravelForgeKestrel
Back-to-back matches against super physical teams… absolutely draining.

IronDuneSpecter
Imagine if we hadn’t signed Hincapié. Don’t even want to think about it.

MarbleCoastFalcon
Both fullbacks were outstanding today. And Merino… the guy has played nonstop and still pops up everywhere on the pitch. Unreal work rate.

CopperDuneVoyager
Even when injured players come back, we somehow lose more. Mosquera looks like a muscle issue — probably out for a few weeks. Rice keeps finishing games limping, which is worrying.

HarborStoneRunner
Not sure what’s going on with Mosquera and Rice. Rice might just have tightness or a minor strain, but Mosquera could be dealing with a hamstring or maybe a bad twist.

FrostPeakNomad
Rice is probably just cramping, but Mosquera… that one honestly looks serious.

IronHavenKite
Feels like a muscle injury for Mosquera. At least White is back, so they might be able to patch things together.

SkylineGrovePilot
If Saliba’s knock is just a bruise, he might push through and return soon. Really hope Mosquera didn’t damage his ankle or knee on that landing.

RidgefallStrider
Looked to me like Mosquera hurt his ankle when he landed. Rice seemed to have cramping or tightness in his calf. We really need Saliba back — having Calafiori or White at CB long-term is a little scary, especially against an Emery side that presses like maniacs when they smell weakness.

EchoRidgePilot
If Mosquera is out and Saliba doesn’t make it, we’ll probably end up with the same backline we saw in the second half. Villa’s forwards don’t offer much aerial threat anyway, so Timber should be able to handle the ground duels just fine.

HarborGaleStrider
I overslept — did White actually play well? The assist was great, but how was the rest of his performance? And what’s going on with Mosquera?

　↳ StoneHollowJet
　He was totally fine. Nothing to worry about.

　　↳ RustFieldNomad
　Good to hear. Really hope White keeps pushing on.

CrimsonMesaVoyager
Are we signing a center-back this winter? Honestly, I’m expecting us to drop points at Villa away — a draw would feel like a win.

　↳ IronValeDrifter
　No chance. Rotation is already hard enough to manage. What happens when everyone returns? Total chaos.

CopperTrailNomad
Some days I’m a striker, other days I’m an interior midfielder, and sometimes I’m the anchor man. Yes — behold, the Central Man!

HarborSkyPilot
So we’re five points clear of City and six ahead of Villa. That clash with Villa is starting to look like a season-defining matchup.

IronValeRunner
Merino really feels like the budget Kane. Honestly, I’d rather keep him starting than Gyökeres right now.

FrostPeakKestrel
Wait, White got Man of the Match? That’s hilarious.

　↳ GraniteHollowRider
　Not Merino? One goal and one assist — he was everywhere today. Nice gesture for White’s return, but still feels unfair on Merino.

　　↳ CrimsonDuneFalcon
　Premier League’s official award went to White. Arsenal’s internal MOTM was Merino, though.

StoneMesaVoyager
Our defensive depth looked rock solid until suddenly half the unit turned into a field hospital. At least the squad still holds up thanks to all that heavy reinforcement. Staying healthy for an entire PL season is basically a fantasy.

RidgeforgeComet
Great win, but just when the attackers start coming back from injury, the defenders start dropping. A fully fit squad might actually be impossible.

SilentHarborJet
Since I tuned in midway through the match Timber stayed at center-back, but if he starts, they might shuffle things. Could be Calafiori, Hincapié, White, Timber as a back line.

NeoCliffNomad
When the attack was falling apart with injuries, the defense carried us. Now it’s the attack’s turn to return the favor.

HarborForgeRunner
Merino and Trossard have been insane value for money. Honestly didn’t expect either of them to reach this level — my apologies to both.

IronDunePilot
Aside from that shoulder issue right after he joined, has Merino ever even been out injured? Guy runs himself into the ground every match and still looks indestructible.

CinderSkyComet
Merino’s finish was outrageous. The schedule is brutal, but please — just beat Villa.

StoneMesaDrift
When Merino plays up top, Ødegaard’s strengths don’t shine as much. With Gyökeres or Havertz making those runs in behind, his passing becomes lethal. With Merino, Eze seems to pair better.

　↳ RidgeHollowKite
　If you go down that path, you end up comparing him to guys like Özil or Wirtz. Ødegaard isn’t supposed to be carried — he’s the one who has to carry the team. Modern 10s need to keep evolving.

FrostPeakNomad
Ødegaard’s injuries have made it hard to settle on the ideal combination. He barely gets to play alongside Gyökeres, who probably fits him best.

GraniteValeTalon
Funny how we thought we had endless center-backs, yet suddenly we’re scraping the bottom. In today’s game, “too much depth” just doesn’t exist.