Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes took a significant hit on Saturday as Yoane Wissa struck late to earn Brentford a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Despite taking the lead through Thomas Partey, the Gunners were pegged back by a determined Brentford side, leaving Mikel Arteta’s men 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who still have a game in hand.

The match was marked by heavy rotation from Arsenal, with Arteta opting to rest several key players, including Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard, ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid. Though both were introduced in the second half, they couldn’t provide the spark Arsenal needed to reclaim their lead.

After a cagey first half, it was Thomas Partey who finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. The Ghanaian midfielder finished off a swift counter-attack initiated by Declan Rice, lashing a low shot into the bottom corner to send the Emirates into brief celebration.

But Arsenal’s defensive fragility resurfaced once again. In the 74th minute, a recycled Brentford corner found its way to Yoane Wissa, who clinically slotted home his 15th league goal of the season. The goal not only secured a vital point for Brentford but also exposed Arsenal’s repeated inability to see out leads a trend that has cost them dearly this season.

This was Arsenal’s 12th draw of the league campaign and marked the 16th point dropped from a winning position a statistic that is increasingly defining their season. While still mathematically in the title race, results like this continue to chip away at their momentum.

For Brentford, the draw was a hard-earned reward for a disciplined performance. The result moves them up to 11th in the table and further cements Yoane Wissa’s status as one of the Premier League’s most reliable forwards this season.

As for Arsenal, all eyes now turn to Europe, where a massive midweek test against Real Madrid awaits. But domestically, this result feels like another step backward in a title race that is fast slipping away.