Mikel Arteta hailed the "quality and commitment" of his Arsenal side after they cut Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points with a 3-1 turnaround win at Brentford on Wednesday night.
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Bryan Mbeumo fired Brentford ahead against the run of play on 13 minutes, but Gabriel Jesus equalised with his sixth goal in four matches after 29 minutes.
Quickfire strikes from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli in the 50th and 53rd minutes completed a turnaround win as Arsenal - without Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (illness) - leapfrogged Nottingham Forest into second spot - much to Arteta's delight.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
18 | +28 | 45 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
19 | +21 | 39 |
| 3 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
19 | +7 | 37 |
| 4 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
19 | +15 | 35 |
"It's a big win. They're a really good side, very well coached and they've been exceptional at home." he told BBC's Match of the Day.
"Especially when you go a goal down early in the game it becomes a mountain to climb, but the team remained patient. We had to manage the situation emotionally.
"I really like my players and I believe in what we have as there's a lot of quality and commitment.
"We can only win our next match and see what happens. It's not in our hands, but what is in our hands we need to make sure we do it."
'They were very, very impressive'
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, a title winner with the Gunners in 1997/98, praised their reaction to going a goal behind against a Brentford team that had lost only once at home this season prior to Wednesday night's match.
"Going a goal down, they showed great character and got themselves back in it," said Wright.
"The temperament, the mentality the confidence of the team was very, very impressive.
"I would take a draw, but they’ve gone a goal down and won 3-1 without three of their main players."
Those sentiments were echoed by another former Gunner, Martin Keown, who told TNT Sport: "Arsenal picked up the intensity, that is a strong signal from the team.
"They are alive and kicking, still alive in this title race.
"In the second half, they showed their class. It was really important for them to win tonight and get the job done."
'The team did great'
Goalscorer Jesus, whose 29th-minute strike cancelled out Mbeumo's opener, says that Wednesday night's result underlines Arsenal's title credentials.
"Yes for sure [we are title contenders]...the previous two years was amazing. We didn't win the league, but we were there fighting.
"I think the team did great today. To come here and play the way we played is amazing. Of course, the most important thing is the three points and we did it, but then the most important thing was how we reacted and we did it.
"Now I can score and I am very happy - I want to keep scoring to help the team."
Jesus will be looking to add to the six goals he has scored in his last four appearances in all competitions when the Gunners are next in action on Saturday at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal's next PL fixtures
