Arsenal wasted the chance to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford on Thursday, with Noni Madueke’s second-half header cancelled out by Keane Lewis-Potter.

The hosts were the better side in the first half but could not take advantage of a nervy Arsenal start, with goalkeeper David Raya forced to make a sharp save from Igor Thiago.

Arsenal took the lead in the 61st minute through Madueke, who soared above Rico Henry and nodded Piero Hincapie’s ball back across goal and into the net.

Brentford deservedly levelled 10 minutes later, however, when Michael Kayode’s long throw was flicked to the back post where Lewis-Potter sent a thunderous header into the top corner.

The draw was a fair result and lifted Arsenal on to 57 points from 26 games, four ahead of Manchester City.

Brentford are seventh on 40 points, four behind fifth-placed Chelsea and remain on course to qualify for European football for the first time.

Their coach Keith Andrew told reporters: “I’m not going to speak about that. There are 12 games left, but I do promise you we are going to attack every single one of them … to see how much we can achieve this year.”

GUNNERS FIGHT BACK FROM NERVY START

Arsenal had followed a mini-wobble of two points from three games with back-to-back league wins, though Manchester City’s 3-0 victory at Fulham on Wednesday kept the pressure on.

The Gunners started shakily in the absence of defender William Saliba as Gabriel needlessly conceded a corner before Raya almost let a backpass squirm under his foot and over the line.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave Eberechi Eze a first league start in 2026, but the England forward was anonymous and replaced at halftime by captain Martin Odegaard.

The visitors were better after the break and went ahead when Brentford were unable to clear their lines, Hincapie’s cross turned in by Madueke past the flat-footed Caoimhin Kelleher.

Arsenal could have been out of sight when Declan Rice laid the ball on a plate for Viktor Gyokeres, but he was denied by Kayode’s last-ditch tackle.

Brentford equalised from Kayode’s throw-in, and Lewis-Potter’s goal shifted the momentum.

Thiago could have snatched victory late on but Cristhian Mosquera made a superb tackle. Kelleher then saved from Gabriel Martinelli one-on-one in a breathless end to the game.

Having briefly been nine points clear before Manchester City came from behind to beat Liverpool last weekend, Arsenal’s lead now stands at four points but Arteta insisted his side’s approach would not change.

“We have to do our job and we are going to have to come to all these places, the same as the rest of the teams, and we know how tough it is,” he told TNT Sports.

“You have to be at your best every game and have the luck that you need as well in games to conquer the three points each week.”

-Reuters

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Nigerian international defenders Ola Aina and striker Taiwo Awoniyi will play under yet another manager at Nottingham Forest after the club confirmed the dismissal of Sean Dyche following Wednesday night’s goalless Premier League draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Nottingham Forest announced in the early hours of Thursday that Dyche had been relieved of his duties after just 114 days in charge.

“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” the club said in a statement. “We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club, and we wish them the best of luck for the future.”

The 54-year-old, who joined the club in October on a contract running until the summer of 2027, becomes the third manager to be sacked by Forest this season. He follows the exits of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, underlining a turbulent campaign at the City Ground.

Forest currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, just one place above the relegation zone, after a three-game winless streak. With 12 matches remaining, the club remains locked in a tense battle to preserve its top-flight status.

Dyche’s final match in charge proved frustrating, as Forest failed to score despite registering 35 attempts in the stalemate against Wolves. Speaking after the game, the former Burnley boss appeared philosophical about his future.

“The owner (Evangelos Marinakis) has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt,” Dyche said. “If the owner wants to make a change, then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now — that’s the reality of it.”

For Aina and Awoniyi, the managerial change adds another layer of uncertainty in what has already been an unstable season. The Nigerian duo have had to adapt to different tactical systems and technical approaches under three separate coaches.

Postecoglou’s brief 39-day spell made him the shortest-serving permanent Premier League manager to be dismissed mid-season, and Dyche’s exit continues the pattern of instability.

Forest are now expected to appoint a fourth manager before next Thursday’s Europa League first-leg clash against Fenerbahce, as they seek stability both domestically and in Europe.

For Nigeria’s Aina and Awoniyi, the focus will now shift to maintaining form amid uncertainty, as Forest’s survival fight enters a decisive phase.

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Crystal Palace ended a nine-game winless run in the Premier League in the best manner possible as they beat rivals Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 away on Sunday.

Ismaila Sarr scored the only goal on the south coast, ending an hour of tedium when he lifted a shot over Bart Verbruggen to break the deadlock.

It was Palace’s first effort on target.

Victory eased Palace’s relegation worries as they leap-frogged Brighton into 13th place with 32 points, nine points above the drop zone.

“It was a relief. We can talk and analyse but you can never replace a win,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said.

“We deserved it at the end, we couldn’t expect to play our best football but we were very compact and aggressive.

“Everyone did their job.”

-Reuters

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