Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show Arsenal get ‘Arsenaled' at Brentford
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Feb 13, 2026 A lively breakdown of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Brentford and whether it felt like a point gained or two lost. They pick apart a poor first half, risk-averse tactics, and defensive lapses around set pieces. Discussions cover Raya’s redemption, Madueke’s towering header, concerns over Saka and Timber fitness, and hopes for rotation ahead of the FA Cup tie.
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Point Gained After Tough Away Test
- Arsenal's 1-1 at Brentford felt like a point gained rather than two points lost after a poor first half and strong defensive escapes.
- The result underlined that Arsenal can still survive tough away tests even when not at their best.
Eze Must Take More Initiative
- Eberechi Eze underperformed and floated around without impacting the game, prompting a half-time substitution.
- Art de Roché says Eze must take more initiative and stop playing too safe to justify his creative role.
Mix Up Attacking Patterns
- Mix up Arsenal's attacking patterns instead of always pushing the same numbers high up the pitch.
- Varying shape and moments of restraint will reduce predictability and create fresh spaces to exploit.