Familiar issues on show as Arsenal risk losing momentum ahead of Real Madrid showdown | OneFootball

The Gunners played out a drab draw with Brentford with much of the focus elsewhere

The good news is that Arsenal came through this game largely unscathed, bar Ben White who picked up a knock in training on Friday and Thomas Partey coming off with 20 minutes to go, so Mikel Arteta has no fresh injuries to worry about ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The Gunners controlled much of the game, finishing it with over 60 per cent possession and Brentford had just three shots on target. The points, however, were shared after Yoane Wissa cancelled out Thomas Partey’s opener.

Thomas Partey scored his ninth goal for Arsenal

John Walton/PA Wire

Partey’s goal just after the hour mark was a moment of real quality. David Raya claimed a Brentford corner and quickly rolled the ball to Declan Rice.

The midfielder was the hero on Tuesday night, morphing into David Beckham, but this was an example of his other abilities and a reminder of why he has the nickname ‘The Horse’.

Driving from just outside his own box, Rice carried the ball all the way to Brentford’s penalty area before teeing up Partey to score.

That felt like it would be enough to win the game for Arsenal, but Wissa was able to hook the ball home from a cross just 10 minutes later.

In many ways, it summed up Arsenal’s season. Too many times, they have conceded goals when dominating games and giving their opponents nothing to feed off.

There was some form of reaction from Arsenal and Bukayo Saka should have put them ahead again when he stole the ball from Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken. The winger took too long to shoot, though, and the chance was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

No one is thinking about the Premier League, the title is Liverpool’s and it is just a question of when, not if, they lift it

The point extended Arsenal’s lead over Nottingham Forest in third to six and the gap to Chelsea in sixth is 10, although the Blues have a game in hand.

Not that anyone was thinking about the Premier League table at the end of this. The title is Liverpool’s and it is just a question of when, not if, they lift it.

For Arsenal, the focus is Real Madrid and finishing the job they started on Tuesday. That 3-0 victory was one of the finest performances under Arteta and the fact he made five changes for this game with Brentford underlined his desire to have players fresh for the second leg.

That, perhaps, played into the disjointed nature of the opening 30 minutes, but from there Arsenal controlled the game and Kieran Tierney had a goal ruled out for offside.

The Gunners did enough to win the game, and another day they would have, but such is the state of Arsenal’s season that is not a concern.

Everything is about Real Madrid on Wednesday night - and now full focus can be on that.