Player Ratings: Brentford 1-1 Arsenal 

A point gained or two dropped: Here's View From The Armchair with his Player Ratings as Arsenal drew 1-1 at Brentford 

Keane Lewis-Potter cancelled out Noni Madueke's opener as it ended a point apiece for the Gunners at the Bees on Thursday evening.

David Raya: 6/10 - returning to his old club with the mission statement crystal clear, keep those clean sheets coming, sadly unable to do so in this tricky fixture. Made a great save from Thiago’s close range header, couldn’t do anything for the Bees equaliser, as this Brentford team underlined just how much of a threat from set pieces and open play they really are.

Jurrien Timber: 6/10 - little chance to get on the attack thanks to Brentford’s possession and positioning in the first half. Very close to getting a late winner when sent through by Gyokeres. Laid it off for Martinelli who sees the chance go begging after taking one touch too many.

Piero Hincapie: 6/10 - a strong opening spell from Brentford put the Ecuadorian defender under the cosh, but posted an assist with a deep swinging cross to the back post for Madueke to nod home. Exactly what we needed, but couldn't repel the busy Bees for the equaliser. Replaced by Calafiori on 81 minutes.

Gabriel: 6/10 - defensive kingpin got a yellow card on 19 minutes but held his defence together., cajoling the troops around him to do the same as Brentford applied serious pressure.

Christhian Mosquera: 6/10 - frustrating first half of football, made all the more irritating as they pegged us back to 1-1 from a long throw. Redeemed himself somewhat against Thiago after initially losing his man, with a late, but vital last-ditch saving tackle which kept the score at 1-1 with the bustling Brazil striker set to pull the trigger on a winner. 

Declan Rice: 6/10 - should have buried one on 66 minutes to make it 2-0, after good work by half time substitute Martin Odegaard, but chose to lay it off to Trossard when he just needed to put his laces through it, as one of the few opportunities we had to score went begging.

Martin Zubimendi: 6/10 - el jefe del mediocampo, which translates to midfield general, quiet game by his standards, almost took the night off he was so invisible, unable to make the difference as he has done on so many occasions for us this season.

Ebere Eze: 5/10 - a rare chance to impress from the start tonight, being replaced at half time for Odegaard tells it’s own story, after a pretty lacklustre display in fairness I can’t deny.

Leo Trossard: 6/10 - I could be wrong but I think he might have been on the old just for men, rocking a darker shade of black on his barnet for this trip to West London tonight, probably the most notable impression he made on me tonight, which says a lot.

Viktor Gyokeres: 5/10 - got a yellow card on 30 minutes for merely touching an opposing player, hustled and bustled and was one of the only players to break Brentford’s lines tonight when he put Timber through late on.

Noni Madueke: 6/10 - our main threat over on the right, cutting inside and out but with little end product. However, on 60 minutes, he heads back across goal from Hincapie’s deep cross to make it 1-0, that’s a vital goal. Replaced by a fit again Bukayo Saka soon after.

Substitutes:

Martin Odegaard: 5/10 - bought on to prise open the can of beans that was the Bees back four. Took a knock on his knee (again) which affected his output overall. We are going to need the skipper to find his goal scoring best form between now and the end of the season. Fired over when wellplaced and should have done better with his shot. 

Bukayo Saka: 5/10 - on the pitch on 68 minutes, replacing goalscorer Madueke, like for like substitution. Work to do as the Bees instantly pulled it back to 1-1, dare I say it with a taste of our own medicine from the long throw. Needed more from our Starboy but couldn't influence the game as much as he would have liked. He wasn't the only one to be fair.

Riccardo Calafiori: 5/10 - unable to change  the outcome in any meaningful way when introduced.

Gabriel Martinelli: 5/10 - another blistering cameo is what we needed, as he replaced Trossard late on. Had a late slither of a chance where he might have scored had he hit it first time.

View From The Armchair Verdict:

Credit where credit is due, Brentford impressed me a lot tonight with a doggedly determined display from the Bees.

I feel if we had have nicked a win, it would have been harsh on  Keith Andrews side. When all is said and done a draw at Brentford is a fair result.

So. We take the point and we keep it moving, bigger trials ahead of us to come. COYG.