Lowell Hornby 
Really really good performance. With nothing but a win acceptable, Arsenal provided the energy and class needed to take revenge on Brentford.
Two cup finals down, fifteen to go… Arsenal are once again in a battle for a meaningful league position, and have a team that are more than capable of achieving it.
Storm Eunice swept the nation on Friday, and today there were remnants of the horrible weather today. Travel disruptions remained, but none of the aforementioned deterred the Emirates crowd who were buoyant from the outset.
The noise did not go a miss, as an energetic Arsenal side dominated the early exchanges. It’s really pleasing to once again be noticeably a top six side playing a bottom half of the table side again, as for so long it hasn’t been the case. There’s now a clear gap in quality which there again maybe hasn’t been in recent years.
Chances and space were not the same problems that they were against Burnley. Brentford didn’t look to play in a low block as I thought they would, but our relentless pressure and perfect structure meant that they were forced to. Ø was fantastic (reminiscent of you know who today), as was ESR - both causing Brentford endless problems in the first half, which was just about as dominant as you can get.
Laca had a goal ruled out, and a couple of very strong penalty shouts were waved away meaning that it stayed 0-0 at HT. Nine shots and 78% possession but 0-0 nonetheless. There wasn’t the same stress as there was in our last home game though, with the breakthrough feeling more like a matter of when rather than if.
The anxiety thankfully wasn’t allowed to build in the second half, as ESR gave us the breakthrough in the 48th minute. A typically probing run ended in a fantastic low curling finish to give Arsenal the lead. His 9th PL goal of the season, and what a player he is.
He must be providing Mikel with a throbbing headache as Martinelli returns from suspension for Thursday’s game. Brentford had a period of pressure, without many chances though and Arsenal doubled their lead with ten to go.
Thomas Partey waited and waited before slipping the ball to Bukayo Saka who then rattled the ball home off the inside of the right hand post. He’s also really good at football. Hale End has produced two absolute gems, and I feel there are probably more to come…
An annoying late goal for Brentford prevented it from being a perfect afternoon, but still the points count all the same. ‘Rockin’ all over the world’ was blasted out of the speakers at the end of the game, and all seemed right with the world. Home just in time to watch Sp*rs lose to… oh.
Kane’s late goal was a real dagger to the heart, but if we keep winning our games we don’t need to worry about anyone else. They’re still three points behind, with us still to play.
What I love most about this season, is that it all still means something - so often in recent years we have been resigned to mid-table finishes by February, but every single game until the end is a ‘cup final’ now and that, if nothing else, is unbelievably exciting. Also being able to care about rival clubs results!!!
Wolves await in what is another big test, see you then Gunners.
Read more from Lowell Hornby:
Battling performance at Wolves bodes well for the future says Lowell Hornby
Life without Aubameyang is bliss as Arsenal power on
Magnificent Martinelli and Arsenal's awesome awayday at Leeds
Arsenal's excellent victory over West Ham moves Gunners into Champions League place
Lowell on Arsenal captain Aubameyang's disciplinary issues after Gunners ease past Southampton
Lowell on Arsenal's defeat to Everton: Absolutely inexcusable
Lowell reflects on Arsenal's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United
Back to winning ways against the Magpies
Lowell analyses loss to Liverpool
Arsenal's victory over Watford at the Emirates on Invincibles Day
Arsenal's stirring victory over land and sea and Leicester
Gunners outclass and overwhelm the Villa
Arsenal's frustrating evening against Palace
Arsenal's rain-check at wet and windy Brighton
My word Arsenal were good against Spurs
Another disappointing performance
Brentford: my first ever away game
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Learn more about Lowell in his own words.
My name is Lowell Hornby.
I’ve been a devout Gooner for all I can remember. I was taken to my first Arsenal game in 2007 and never looked back.
I’ve never really thought of football being in my life as a conscious choice, more of a genetic deficiency.
The relationship my Dad (who some of you may know: Nick Hornby, author of Fever Pitch) has developed with football inevitably has rubbed off on me.
It feels like it’s a lot more than results; it’s the club, the feeling, the fans, the friends - everything.
In my year off, after an unimaginably painful 18 months of fan-less football, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than follow my beloved Arsenal up and down the country as I attempt to go to every Premier League game this season.
The pieces I write will document not just the games, but my experiences, the cities, the journeys, the people.
I hope in doing so I can capture, express, articulate and transmit the visceral emotions of myself, fellow Gooners and football fans as a whole.
I live and breathe football, and I hope these pieces and my project this season can convey that in a way that’s enjoyable to experience vicariously.
If you’d like to be following me more casually, and be notified of any pieces of course, my Twitter handle is @weststandlowell and I’ll be tweeting over there. COYG
