ARSENAL have progressed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after beating Brentford in west London.
Mikel Arteta opted to go with a heavily rotated side from the eleven who drew with bitter rivals Tottenham at the weekend.
And Reiss Nelson became man of the moment as his first-half strike sealed the deal for the Gunners.
- RESULT: Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
- Live stream/TV: Not televised in the UK
- Brentford XI: Flekken, Roerslev, Collins, Zanka, Pinnock, Hickey, Norgaard, Janelt, Onyeka, Mbuemo, Wissa
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Havertz, Smith-Rowe, Nelson, Sagoe Jr, Nketiah
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Gunners need to compete for trophies
Having invested heavily in the squad, it is important that Arsenal challenge for every trophy they play in this season.
While the Carabao Cup is often seen as the lesser trophy, it is all about having silverware in that trophy cabinet at the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta will always be judged on his trophy haul and not points tallies or league positions.
If you’re not first, you’re nowhere.
Ready Eddie wins the plaudits
Eddie Nketiah put in a man of the match performance despite not getting on the scoresheet himself.
His hold up play brought others into the game and he unselfishly squared the ball to Nelson for the winning goal.
Nketiah covered a lot of ground and gave the Brentford defenders a torrid evening.
Calm finish proves the difference
When the ball came to Reiss Nelson with only the keeper to beat, he struck his shot first time into the bottom corner.
For a player who does not see as much game time as he would like, it was an assured finish from Nelson.
Enjoyed getting on the scoresheet, even more so when it proved to be the winner.
Credit: Alamy
FT: Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal will be pleased to bounce back with a win after drawing the North London derby on the weekend.
Mikel Arteta needs to win a trophy to show progress for all the money spent in the summer.
The most important thing is that they are in the draw for the next round later this evening.
FT: Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
Reiss Nelson has a habit of when he scores for Arsenal, they tend to be winning goals.
Arteta was able to shuffle his pack tonight and still come away with the victory.
Would have liked to see his side threaten more in the final third but it was the result that was the most important thing in this cup tie.
FT: Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
Over the course of the 90 minutes it was quite an even game.
Brentford proved too wasteful when they created chances.
It was a mistake that led to an Arsenal goal and proved costly.
FT: Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s side hold on for the victory.
Brentford tries to throw the kitchen sink at them towards the end but Arsenal dug deep.
Reiss Nelson’s goal is the difference between the two sides this evening.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
90+4. Brentford are looking to knock the ball route one now.
Tomiyasu is covering but the ball is put out for a corner.
Flekken comes up for the corner but as the cross finds the head of Wissa, his looping header is an easy catch for Ramsdale.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
90+2. Arsenal hit Brentford on the counter attack.
The ball is worked out wide to Havertz.
As they manage to find Odegaard he tries a shot from some twenty-five yards out but it deflects wide for a corner.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
90. Brentford play the ball up to Wissa, as he takes the ball on the chest, it is well won by Tomiyasu.
Arsenal have been solid for most of the game in defence but then The Bees have not been very productive in the final third.
It is all about game management now for The Gunners.
There is going to be five additional minutes added.
Credit: Getty Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
88. Nketiah comes of for Soares as The Gunners look to see this one out.
He has been Arsenal’s best player tonight with his hold up play and bringing other players into the game.
A mature performance by the young striker.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
86. Arsenal are playing some good football in the final third but much like their opponents, cannot find that killer pass.
As a result they pass it all the way back to their centre backs.
It works well being one-nil up but in another game, this would be an issue.
Elneny tries a shot from distance but it was never troubling the goal.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
84. If Arsenal do concede in these closing stages of the game, the finger will be pointed once again at their inability to kill games off.
The ball comes to Lewis-Potter at the back post and a goal seems certain.
As he shoots, with the ball past Ramsdale, somehow Kiwior gets his body in the way to block the effort.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
82. Elneny and Odegaard come on for Arsenal.
Arteta seems to think if they can retain possession now they will see this game out.
Odegaard whips a free kick into the box but Flekken collects with ease.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
80. Brentford are just lacking that final pass.
They are doing well to get near the Arsenal penalty area but then seem to be short of ideas.
The Gunners are holding a good line and keeping them at bay, Ramsdale has still had so little to do in this game.
Credit: Reuters
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
78. If they can pile the pressure on Arsenal for the final fifteen minutes they can put the visitors under some pressure.
The ball drops to Mbuemo in the box and he fires high and wide.
Sums up how things have been going since he hit this dry patch.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
76. Thomas Frank makes two more changes, looking to change the game.
Time is starting to run out for his side now.
They have the ball in the back of the net but the assistant referee has his flag up for offside.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
74. Arsenal are trying to suck the life out of Brentford by retaining possession.
Happy to pass the ball around and make Thomas Frank’s team chase shadows.
Nketiah makes a run into the box and gets a shot away but Flekken makes a good block.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
72. Brentford are caught dwelling on the ball in defence but Jesus cannot make them pay.
He tried to muscle his way into the box but it was hacked clear.
Brentford are getting more desperate at the game goes on, they need to commit more players up field now.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
70. This is still a tight game, as long as only one goal is the difference between the two sides, anything is possible.
Havertz attacks down the left and plays a pass to Nelson on the edge of the box.
He tries a left-footed shot that narrowly misses the near post.
Credit: Alamy Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
68. Jensen is booked for a challenge on Gabriel.
Brentford are spending a lot more time in the Arsenal half now.
As a result, Arteta brings Zinchenko and Jesus on.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
66. The ball breaks to the Brentford attack, he cuts inside onto his right foot and gets a shot away.
Ramsdale seems to get a slight touch on it and it ricochets off the post.
That is the closest Brentford have come to scoring this evening.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
64. It could be a long run to January for the Brentford fans.
The lack of firepower they have at their disposal is worrying.
Wissa just does not look potent in the box at all.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
62. Hickey finds himself in space down the left and he heads towards goal and tries to bend one into the far corner.
White does well to stand his ground and block the shot.
Ghoddos and Jensen have come on for The Bees.
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
60. This has been all too easy for Arsenal this evening.
Ramsdale has had very little to do with Brentford still yet to register their first shot on target.
The Bees are struggling to keep the ball when they have it in the final third.
Credit: Reuters
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
