Raya: Arsenal ´have to stick together´ after Brentford draw - Soccer News

[ad_1] David Raya insisted Arsenal “have to stay collectively” within the Premier League title race after they dropped factors in a 1-1 draw at Brentford.

Noni Madueke had put Arsenal in entrance simply after the hour, sending a looping header previous the wrong-footed Caoimhin Kelleher, however Keane Lewis-Potter profited from an extended throw on the different finish to thump in an equaliser.

And Arsenal had been removed from their finest, managing simply two photographs heading in the right direction on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium. Gabriel Martinelli may have received it late on, although, however he was thwarted by Kelleher.

Following the full-time whistle within the Gunners’ final recreation, that they had a nine-point lead on the high, however Manchester Metropolis have since received twice, with the hole now sitting at simply 4.

However Raya was fast to spotlight that Arsenal stay in management on the summit, regardless of the irritating consequence.

“Disenchanted with only a level. We stick collectively,” he instructed TNT Sports activities. “It’s a troublesome place to come back, however we simply have to stay collectively, and we're nonetheless in an excellent place, and we go once more.

“It [the first-half performance] felt wonderful. We dominated many of the first half till they received momentum. We handled it very effectively and scored the purpose within the second half.

“I assumed that was going to be sufficient, however they performed harmful on set-pieces, and we conceded. We had the probabilities to win the sport, however we didn’t maximise them.

“We're nonetheless in an excellent place. We've got to concentrate on ourselves. We've got the FA Cup on Sunday, however we go once more on Wednesday [against Wolves].”

Arsenal’s 0.6 anticipated objectives (xG) was their third-lowest in a Premier League recreation this season, behind their video games with Liverpool in August (0.5 xG) and January (0.6 xG).

Madueke’s opener got here from their first shot heading in the right direction within the 61st minute – solely towards Wolves in December (68th minute) have the Gunners waited longer in a league recreation in 2025-26.

Brentford bettered Arsenal’s shot depend, having 12 to their seven, with the guests additionally solely managing one ‘huge’ alternative to the Bees’ three, and Mikel Arteta admitted his facet had been missing an edge within the last third.

“The sport had moments,” Arteta instructed BBC Sport. “We began with out the management and dominance we wished, however after that, we received the rhythm and had conditions to attain.

“We began the second half brilliantly. We scored the purpose, after which we managed the sport, however after that, the sport grew to become chaotic. The second you begin to give away one or two free-kicks, the ball goes into the channels in can exit for a throw, after which it's a nightmare.

“They'll throw the ball from wherever on the pitch. You get into that recreation, and it is rather troublesome to get out.

“They're among the finest traditionally within the league [from set-pieces], they usually have developed this 12 months with the lengthy throw. It's a actual menace and troublesome to defend.