Arsenal 1 Brentford 1: Wissa earns Bees a well-deserved point at the Emirates | OneFootball

Yoane Wissa scored his 15th goal of the Premier League season as Brentford came from behind to draw 1-1 with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

Thomas Partey had given the Gunners the lead on the hour, rounding off a blistering counter attack following a Bryan Mbeumo corner, but Thomas Frank’s side rallied and earned a well-deserved point thanks to Wissa’s smart finish.

There was one change to the side that lined up against Chelsea the previous weekend as Vitaly Janelt came in for Yehor Yarmoliuk. Forward Gustavo Nunes was named in a matchday squad for the first time.

After an uneventful start, Arsenal had the first effort at goal on 10 minutes. Gabriel Martinelli, latching on to Leandro Trossard’s through ball, darted into the box and Mark Flekken stood firm at his front post to divert the ball out for a corner.

The next chance fell to the Bees. Mikkel Damsgaard swept the ball out to Mbeumo on the right and the forward threaded a pass down the channel for the overlapping Kristoffer Ajer, whose first-time strike from the right of the area was pushed away by David Raya.

William Saliba nodded Declan Rice’s corner wide of the post, while Kieran Tierney’s headed goal was overturned by VAR for offside, as the intensity ramped up in north London.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was next to try his luck on 33 minutes, collecting the ball on the edge of the area, cutting back on to his left foot and testing Flekken with a fizzing low drive.

Ajer made a vital block moments later, throwing himself in front of Martinelli’s close-range attempt after the Brazilian had been brilliantly picked out by Saliba.

In the final action before the break, Trossard worked some space on the edge of the box with a smart dummy and his fierce effort was palmed away by Flekken.

Arsenal broke the deadlock on the hour. Raya claimed Mbeumo’s corner and quickly released Rice, who strode forward into the Brentford half. Partey kept pace with the midfielder and after receiving the ball to the right of the area hammered home beyond Flekken.

Brentford levelled on 74 minutes. Substitute Michael Kayode’s cross from the byline was cushioned down by Nathan Collins and Wissa, on the swivel inside the six-yard box, fired into the net before racing over to the Bees fans in the far corner of the Emirates.

Kayode, having played an instrumental role in Brentford’s goal, was needed at the other end seconds after the restart.

Bukayo Saka capitalised on Flekken’s heavy touch on the edge of the box and advanced towards goal, but Kayode raced across and prevented the forward from getting a shot away.

Jorginho hobbled off on 86 minutes, leaving Arsenal with 10 players for the remainder of the game as Mikkel Arteta had used all of his substitutes.

Nunes, a summer signing from Brazilian top-flight side Grêmio, made his much-anticipated debut, replacing Christian Nørgaard in stoppage time.

Saka came close to a late winner for Arsenal, but his curling effort skipped narrowly wide of the far post.

Arsenal: Raya; Partey (Timber 69), Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney (Lewis-Skelly 62); Jorginho, Rice (Merino 75), Zinchenko (Ødegaard 62); Nwaneri (Saka 63), Trossard, Martinelli

Subs not used: Neto, Henry-Francis, Butler-Oyedeji, Sterling

Brentford: Flekken; Ajer (Kayode 69), van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Nørgaard (Nunes 90+1), Janelt (Yarmoliuk 69), Damsgaard (Jensen 80); Schade, Wissa, Mbeumo

Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Mee, Konak

Attendance: 60,184

Frank: An exceptional defensive performance

Thomas Frank reacted to Brentford's 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

"I thought it was a good point against a very strong team," he said.

"We saw how good they were on Tuesday night against [Real] Madrid.

"It was a good away performance and exceptional defensive performance. We limited them to very little throughout the game.

"It was a good mentality to come back and score as well, so I'm pleased."

On Yoane Wissa, who scored the equalising goal, Frank added: "15 Premier League goals - wow!

"That's exceptional and it's down to Wissa but also down to how we play and how we create chances and big moments."

Wissa proud to reach 15-goal milestone

Yoane Wissa spoke of his pride after scoring his 15th goal of the Premier League season in Brentford’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Wissa's strike took him to 50 Premier League goal involvements (41 goals, nine assists), becoming only the second Brentford player to reach this milestone after Mbeumo (64).

“It’s a very good point away from home against one of the best teams in the world,” he said.

“It was a great ball from Michael [Kayode]. After that, Nath [Collins] slid the ball back and it came to me. I just wanted to try my best to put the ball on target. It went in and I was really, really, really happy. 15 goals in the Premier League, I’m really happy with that.”

Wissa added: “I came back from a crazy story. I came to Brentford and struggled a bit during the first year. Second year I tried to do my best, and last year I tried to be happy and show that I can play.

“This year, just enjoy. I’m enjoying the performances from the guys and the confidence from the gaffer [Thomas Frank] and the staff. It’s been a long journey, really emotional, and I’m really happy. Now the aim is to go higher.”