If Brentford turned up to the Emirates expecting a quiet evening, they must have been checking the postcode every five minutes. In north London right now the lights are always on, the noise is always loud,and Mikel Arteta’s men simply refuse to leave without all three points. Tonight’s 2–0 win extended Arsenal’s run to 18 unbeaten in all competitions and — whisper it quietly — put them five points clear at the top.
They’re not just grinding results out; they’re cruising, and doing it with a swagger that’s starting to feel very familiar. MERINO WITH A DOWNWARD HEADER (AND THEN SOME) If you’d said a year ago that the phrase “White to Madueke to Merino, goal” would become part of Arsenal’s attacking vocabulary, you’d have been laughed out of the pub.
Ben White popping up like an auxiliary playmaker, Noni Madueke flicking balls like he’s auditioning for Cirque du Soleil, and Merino thundering home headers as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Madueke’s first start since September? You wouldn’t have guessed it. Rico Henry will be shaking the studs out of his boots for a week.
The goal itself was textbook — Madueke to White to Merino, header into the ground,up and beyond Kelleher,who’s probably still trying to work out which postcode that ball landed in. Goal No. 5 of the season for the Spaniard. Goal No. 21 of his ridiculous 2025. If this keeps up, they’ll be renaming the Mersey Tunnel after him by Christmas. Brentford tried to do Brentford things — corners,chaos, aerial bombardments — but David Raya’s reflexes were on loan from a pinball machine.
One save from Kevin Schade was so good it should’ve come with its own tribute video. Everywhere you looked,Arsenal were purring: Calafiori backheeling like a man angling for a statue, Martinelli leaning back just enough to look dangerous, and Madueke almost capping off a first half that could fuel an entire TikTok compilation. SAKA DOES WHAT SAKA DOES Brentford kept flinging long throws as if trying to restart a medieval siege, but Arsenal’s back line held firm.
After the hour mark Arteta sent on Eze and Saka — like dropping a piano onto a trampoline — and the game immediately changed shape. Rice curled one close from distance. Calafiori looked like he might break the net. Merino kept producing near-hat-tricks of “almosts. ” Kelleher,to his credit,was having the game of his life, which is probably why he looked so fed up when the inevitable finally arrived.
Merino slides in a through ball so perfect it should be framed; Saka cuts inside onto that left foot; Kelleher might as well have been holding an umbrella. Ball. Top bin. Game over. Victory wrapped, points sealed, gap at the top maintained. N5 in full voice. What’s coming up? Hope the lads packed their travel pillows — it’s a busy week: - Aston Villa (Away) — Saturday, December 6,12.
30pm - Club Brugge (Away) — Wednesday,Champions League, Matchday 6 Two away days,two big atmospheres,two more chances to keep this unstoppable run rolling. The Loose Cannon verdict: Arsenal look confident. They look composed. They look ruthless. But most importantly… they look top of the league. And long may that continue.