We came from behind to secure an impressive New Year’s Day victory away to Brentford.
Bryan Mbeumo fired the hosts into an early lead with their first shot on target, but two poachers’ finishes either side of the interval put us ahead. First Gabriel Jesus headed in after Thomas Partey’s shot was saved, then Mikel Merino was in the right place to prod home from a corner.
Gabriel Martinelli with a pure strike made it 3-1, and ensured we started 2025 how we spent much of 2024 – by recording a comfortable away day win.
Bees’ early sting
It was the hosts, so strong at home so far this season, who struck first. Having barely been in our half in the opening 10 minutes, Bryan Mbeumo picked up a pass from Mikkel Damsgaard that had looked to have taken him away from goal.
But he strode into the area, checked onto his left foot and beat David Raya low down at the near post. It was their first attempt on goal, but the goal clearly lifted their confidence.
As we tried to get a foothold back in the game, Jurrien Timber picked up a yellow card that rules him out of the Brighton match on Saturday.
Thomas Partey nearly got on the end of a dangerous Martin Odegaard free-kick but was flagged offside anyway.
At the other end Keane Lewis-Potter tested Raya with a shot that the former Brentford man had to claw out from on the line after the initial effort squirmed through his grasp.
Jesus and Merino pounce
We grabbed the leveller on the half hour. Gabriel Martinelli was challenged on the edge of the area while getting his shot away, and the loose ball fell to Partey. His drive was only parried by Mark Flekken and there was Jesus in the right place to head in the rebound.
It was the Brazilian’s sixth goal in his last four appearances. There was little to choose between the sides in the first half. We saw a lot more of the ball, but Brentford got back well in numbers, and many of our attacks fizzled out around the area.
Soon after the restart though we went ahead, and like the equaliser, it was a real opportunist finish. This time Ethan Nwaneri’s inswinging corner caused confusion and Flekken made a hash of his clearance. Jesus sent his shot goalwards, it was blocked but there was Merino to stab in the loose ball.
Martinelli makes sure
Within three minutes we had increased our advantage. Once again Nwaneri – making his first Premier League start back at the venue where he broke the record for our youngest debutant – was involved. His cross from the right wasn’t dealt with and this time Martinelli was the man to rifle the dropping ball into the net.
A crisp finish from the Brazilian, and he soon set up compatriot Jesus with a run from deep. Raya found Martinelli with a long pass, the winger broke into the area, rolled it into Jesus but his cute finish went just the wrong side of the near post.
But we had done enough to inflict on Brentford’s second home defeat this season. The win takes us back up to second with 39 points as we reach the halfway point of the Premier League season, with 19 games played.
FACTS AND STATS
We have picked up more points in Premier League London derbies this season (14) than any other side, while no side has fewer points in such matches this term than Brentford (4, level with Crystal Palace).
Since the start of last season, Brentford have lost 47 points from winning positions (30 last season, 17 this), at least 10 more than any other side.
Brentford are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season. Indeed, the Bees have gone 11 successive home league matches without a shutout for the first time since October 2007 (13).
We won a Premier League away game in which we fell 1-0 behind for the first time since February 2023 at Aston Villa (4-2).
We have scored nine Premier League goals from corner situations this season, the most of any side. Indeed, five of our last 12 league goals have come via corners.
Bryan Mbeumo has scored nine goals at the Gtech Community Stadium in this season's Premier League – the most home goals by any player in the division in 2024/25.
Gabriel Jesus has scored six goals in his last four appearances in all competitions – as many as his previous 48 beforehand. The Brazilian has scored in back-to-back away games in the Premier League for the first time since April 2023.
Gabriel Martinelli has scored in three of his last four Premier League away appearances (3 goals), more than his previous 26 on the road in the competition beforehand (2 goals).
Aged 17 years and 286 days, Ethan Nwaneri was the third-youngest player ever to start a Premier League game for us, after Cesc Fabregas (17y 103d v Everton in August 2004) and Theo Walcott (17y 212d v Watford in October 2006).
What’s next
We travel down south to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in the Premier League, our first game outside of London since November 26. League football then takes a back seat for a while, when we host Newcastle (next Tuesday) in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, then Manchester United (Sunday, January 12) in the FA Cup third round.
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