Arsenal (0) 1 v 1 (0) Brentford
61 Partey, assist Rice 74 Wissa, assist Collins.
Yellows: Odegaard Norgaard, Schade, Yarmoliuk Ref. S. Hooper
Played Saturday 12 April 2025, at The Emirates Stadium, attendance 60,184.
Let’s get the ordinary out of the way first and this was an ordinary performance by Arsenal with 5 rested players. Both goals came in the second half. The Gunners’ Declan Rice powered through the midfield to set up fellow midfielder Thomas Partey. The Bees equalizer came through Yoane Wissa who has now scored 15 Premier League (PL) goals, one less than equally dangerous teammate Bryan Mbeumo.
If that was an ordinary Arsenal performance then their 1-2 away win at Real Madrid was extraordinary. More than that it came after the stunning 3-0 home win in the first leg over the UEFA Champions League Cup Holders and 15 times winners. Next it’s Paris St-Germain whom Arsenal beat 2-0 in the earlier league stage. If one half of North London is happy then for now so is the other after Tottenham Hotspur’s gritty 0-1 away win v Eintracht Frankfurt. Their Semifinal opponents will be Bode/Glimt who beat the tough Italian side Lazio, who had topped the league stage, on penalties.
The trio of Premier London Derbies (PLDs) winners in Europe is made up by Chelsea who, despite a 1-2 home defeat by Legia Warsaw are into a Semifinal v Djurgarden Before then it’s back to Premier League (PL) business on Easter Sunday 20 April 2025 with Fulham v Chelsea. This one has been one home and three away wins and Chelsea will want the 3 points for their PL top 4 challenge. Fulham are not however completely out of the European football running so it may well be an even contest.
Until next time, “Happy Easter”, and enjoy your football. Andrew at PLDs.