Keane Lewis-Potter’s second-half header ensured Arsenal dropped points for the fourth time in six Premier League matches as the Gunners moved four points ahead of second-placed Manchester City by holding on for a draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford are level!
A trademark long throw is finished off by Keane Lewis-Potter 🎯@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/h1aqtgIh2g
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
Sepp van den Berg’s flicked header from a long throw allowed Lewis-Potter to nod in decisively 19 minutes from time and boost the Cityzens’ hopes of overhauling the Gunners following a 3-0 home win over Fulham for Pep Guardiola’s side on Wednesday.
Noni Madueke headed Arsenal in front in the 61st minute, meeting Piero Hincapie’s cross to score his second goal in three league matches.
Arsenal have the breakthrough!
Noni Madueke with a header of real quality 🎯@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Kpq0IWRm6X
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
Seventh-placed Brentford threatened a late winner, forcing Cristhian Mosquera to make an excellent recovery block to prevent Igor Thiago from shooting before the prolific forward fired another chance over the crossbar from inside the box.
Home goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher then made a brilliant one-on-one save when Gabriel Martinelli raced clear from Jurrien Timber’s through-ball.
You can see stats from the Premier League match here.
David Raya with an incredible save to deny Brentford an opener 😲@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yimW3Hdn0A
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
More to follow
Premier League table: What does Arsenal’s draw at Brentford mean?
As well as their lead over City, Arsenal are now seven points above third-placed Aston Villa with 12 league games remaining for each team.
Brentford have moved four points clear of eighth-placed Everton and are two points behind sixth-placed Liverpool.
Curiously, a late goal would have put Brentford level with the reigning champions on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded.
Brentford confirmed starting team vs Arsenal
Brentford made one change from their 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday, bringing in Yehor Yarmoliuk for Jordan Henderson in midfield.
Forward Kevin Schade was suspended and Reiss Nelson was ineligible to play against his parent club, so Luka Bentt replaced the winger on the bench.
Midfielders Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva had long-term injuries.
Brentford starting XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Sepp van den Berg, Rico Henry, Dango Ouattara, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Mathias Jensen, Vitaly Janelt, Keane Lewis-Potter, Igor Thiago
Brentford substitutes: Hakon Valdimarsson, Aaron Hickey, Ethan Pinnock, Jordan Henderson, Nathan Collins, Mikkel Damsgaard, Romelle Donovan, Kaye Furo, Luka Bentt
“The biggest dream of my life is to wear my national team jersey” 🇧🇷
Brentford’s Igor Thiago discusses his 2026 World Cup ambitions 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Zp3LGw6KE2
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 12, 2026
Arsenal confirmed starting team vs Brentford
Winger Bukayo Saka and midfielder Martin Odegaard returned on the bench for Arsenal following injuries, having missed the home wins over Chelsea and Sunderland last week.
Centre-back William Saliba was not involved at all as the hosts made four changes from their 3-0 victory against the Black Cats on Saturday.
Cristhian Mosquera replaced Saliba and Piero Hincapie came in for full-back Riccardo Calafiori. In attack, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres supplanted Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Midfielder or forward Mikel Merino was recovering from foot surgery and winger Max Dowman was out with an ankle issue.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard
Arsenal substitutes: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Christian Norgaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly
Brentford vs Arsenal stats
- Brentford’s 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their last home league game had ended a seven-match unbeaten run at the Gtech Stadium
- Since the start of last season, they’ve only lost consecutive home league games twice, the first time of which was a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest followed by a loss to Arsenal
- Their first-ever Premier League victory came against Arsenal, in their first game in the competition in August 2021
- Since then, they’re winless in their last nine against the Gunners (D3 L6)
- One of their last 11 home London derbies in the Premier League has resulted in victory (D7 L4), going winless in seven since a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in August 2024
- Igor Thiago has nine goals in his last 11 Premier League home games, netting four braces along the way. Only Erling Haaland (5) has scored multiple goals in more different home matches this season
- This was Brentford’s fourth Premier League game ever on a Thursday – they lost 2-0 at Tottenham in December 2021, beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in May 2025 and drew 0-0 with Spurs last month
- Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has won 41 of his 678Premier League London derbies as manager
- Overall, only Arsene Wenger (106 from 194 games) and Jose Mourinho (42/70) have won more London derbies than the Spaniard
- One of their last 24 Premier League London derbies has resulted in defeat (W17 D6)
- Since the start of 2022/23, they’ve lost one of their 21 away games against London sides (W14 D6)
- Although Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays (W9 D4), they’re without a win (D2 L2) in any of their last four on Thursdays
- Arteta’s side had won their previous three trips to Brentford by an aggregate score of 7-1
- Bukayo Saka has been involved in 35 goals in 63 Premier League London derbies (17 goals, 18 assists), which is the third-most of any Arsenal player after Thierry Henry (55) and Dennis Bergkamp (38)
What’s next for these teams? Brentford, Arsenal fixtures
Brentford visit non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday (19:30), a day after Arsenal host third-tier strugglers Wigan Athletic (16:30) at the same stage of the competition.