Player Ratings: Arsenal 2-0 Brentford as Gunners go five points clear at the top of the Premier League

Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka sealed another win for Mikel Arteta's table toppers 

Find out who impressed with View From The Armchair's unique Player Ratings after Arsenal beat Brentford 2-0 to move five points clear  

David Raya: 8.5/10 - the only thing missing from his performance tonight was a bit more possession in midfield and maybe a few more shots on goal, leave the calamitous goalkeeping errors and the handling of the ball to that lot up the road who play in white, amateurs, this is how it should be done.

Ben White: 8/10 - back in the first team since the first game of the season, gets the assist for Merino’s opener after some sexy footwork from Madueke, throwing himself into blocks and challenges and looked great doing it, given the player of the match by Smudger Smith on the comms, although I’m giving it to Calaferrari (credit @gunnerloulou on X)

Piero Hincapie: 8.5/10 - calm and comfortable at the back despite the Bees coming out at the start of the second half with an increased sense of urgency, clearly as hard as nails as he gets skittled by a shoulder barge, gets up, brushes himself off and goes again, exactly what we need at the back, also brushes off a clash of heads that would have had me heading for the hospital as well, flawless performer tonight.

Christian Mosquera: 8/10 - calm and collected on the ball, and strong in the challenge, but it’s disaster on 43 minutes as he hobbles off to be replaced by Timber at the heart of the defence, landed awkwardly after an innocuous headed clearance, any sign of a knock or a twang, and the players have clearly been instructed to leave the field such is the depth of this squad, it will be a shame to lose him for any amount of time as he was looking really good at the back.

Riccardo Calafiori: 9/10 - hence forth forever known as Calaferrari (credit to @gunnerloulou on X) look at him, like a Roman gladiatorial scout sent out to seek more Celtic warriors to put to the sword, have no idea what position he is meant to be playing tonight, just out there roaming, nicking all the Bees honey and stealing their girls hearts.

Martin Odegaard: 8/10 - the skipper is back, offering an incentive to Eze in the process, clearly looking to put his stamp on proceedings, but the longer the game lingered on at only 1-0, the squeekier the bums were in the crowd. We need a second goal to calm the nerves. Which, thankfully, duly came late on.

Martin Zubimendi: 8/10 - playing in the deep lying role he loves to dominate, playing one-two’s with Raya, sweeping up with ease anytime the Bees counter attack. Had worse stings off of a nettle than this lot tonight, able to do his thing tonight cos he wasn’t booked after four minutes. Which was nice.

Declan Rice: 8.5/10 - it’s free flowing, marauding, uncontrollable football from half price super Dec, involved with most of Arsenal’s best patterns of play all night, his spatial awareness is a sight to behold, I’ve seen enough, just give him the Balon d'or already. Worryingly limped off with eight minutes remaining. Let's hope it's nothing too serious. 

Noni Madueke: 7/10 - Mr Jinking feet, let it be known we have a live replacement for Saka when we need one now, did well enough as he is replaced in a like-for-like swap with Saka. That I am actually able to write ‘like-for-like’ is a blessing we should all be grateful for, the fans in the ground certainly know it, the online contingent remains to be seen, time will tell.

Mikel Merino: 8.5/10 - our makeshift striker is gorging himself on MOTM cinnamon buns dished out by yours truly. Bullet header into the ground past the Bees keeper to make 1-0 on 11 minutes. Our Basque gets better every game I see him play, and is currently making himself one of the first names to go down on the team sheet. Even if he does go over a bit too theatrically for my liking on a penalty check on 65 minutes, either way it’s another 8.5 cinnamon buns from me as he chalks up another assist as Arsenal grab the second - my, how we desperately needed that to calm our nerves.

Gabi Martinelli: 7/10 - looks a lot more fired up tonight than he was at Chelsea at the weekend, involved with most of Arsenal’s attacks, played well enough and it’s just a case of playing him back into his finest form now, makes way for Eze on 60 mins.

Substitutes:

Jurrien Timber: 7/10 - on as a replacement for the injured Mosquera, was meant to be getting a rest, won’t be getting it tonight, we are suddenly looking a bit threadbare at the back.

Bukayo Saka: 8/10 - on for Madueke on 60 minutes, Arsenal's controlled possession took any sting out of the tail of these Bees tonight, 90 minutes the Greenford troublemaker seals the deal, put through by Merino, he cuts inside and lets rip with his right peg, the keeper saves but the ball trickles over the line to make it 2-0. Lovely. 

Eberechie Eze: 7/10 - on for Martinelli on 60 minutes, the game's set up for him to enter the fray and deliver the killer second goal, as it happens, it was his partner in substitutes, Saka who gets it to put the stamp on a dominant Arsenal performance tonight.

Viktor Gyokeres: 7/10 - gets warmed up and ready to enter the fray with eight minutes remaining, worryingly replaces super half price Dec who limps off, please don’t let it be anything serious. Barely enough time to get warmed up or go flying into a slide tackle with the Bees keeper.

View From The Armchair Verdict:

A boisterous start lifted by the early goal on 10 minutes which will warm the cockles of even the most cold hearted Arsenal supporter in the ground tonight, treated to a dominant first half of free flowing sexy football that even Johan Cruyff would have been happy to be involved with.

Visit Rwanda are going nuts on the hoardings, they must have ratcheted up the advertising budget, it’s definitely one of those games where I would have found myself crowd watching over the action on the pitch. The crowd try to find their voices at the start of the second half, but it’s a night to let our controlled possession do the talking at the Grove.

Fantastic to hear a rousing rendition of "We're the clock end/We're the North Bank' as Arsenal ratchet up the pressure in the second half. And news reaches me that Chelsea are getting beaten (lol) would be as good a time as any to get a chorus of "Jesus Said Paddy" in my book.

Late on Saka adds the second goal we need, and the relief in the stands is palpable as we grab another three points in our march towards glory and silverware.

Safe travels home Gooners, it could be coming home. COYG!