Now that the Premier League season has reached the halfway point, there is a glimmer of hope that we might be able to challenge for the title.
Mikel Arteta's tenacious, steely and resourceful Arsenal claimed a comeback victory in one of the toughest venues this competition has to offer as goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli completed a perfect festive season for the Gunners.
Jesus is suddenly in lethal form, another goal came from a corner and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri got off to a promising start in the first competition as Arsenal made light of the absence of four first-choice starters.
During twelve days of Christmas football they claimed a maximum of nine points. The only problem is that runaway leaders Liverpool have done the same.
Arsenal are six points behind Arne Slot's Red men, having played one match more than the leaders.
Arteta's perennial number two will be hoping for a miraculous collapse of the Anfield club, but at least they are showing they are capable of mounting a ruthless run of their own to stay in contention, just as they did in the early months of 2024.
Brentford, who have enjoyed so many thrilling victories here in their cozy home in the shadow of the Chiswick Viaduct, took an early lead through Bryan Mbeumo's tenth goal of the season.
But Arsenal – rarely pretty, but usually quite effective – gritted their teeth and dragged it back on a cold, soggy day in Hounslow.
With Bukayo Saka out on a long-term absence and Kai Havertz struck down by illness, Arteta handed Nwaneri a full competitive debut on the pitch, having first appeared off the bench as a 15-year-old schoolboy two seasons ago.
The Gunners boss made a total of four changes: Declan Rice, who was not fully fit, was dropped to the bench in favor of Mikel Merino, with Riccardo Calafiori replacing young full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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Brentford have been shaky of late, going four games without a goal and two games without a goal after their excellent home record was tarnished by a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their last outing at the Gtech Stadium.
Thomas Frank welcomed Sepp van den Berg as central defender, while Yehor Yormoliuk moved to midfield.
And the Bees started with a bang, scoring with their first serious effort on target.
Mikkel Damsgaard's well-weighted through ball freed Mbeumo, who cut inside from the right and smashed home a shot that beat David Raya at his near post.
Facing his old club, Raya made an almost more spectacular blunder just before the half-hour mark when he spilled a straight shot from Keane Lewis-Potter and had to recover with an acrobatic effort to claw it back off the line, preventing a second Brentford goal by inch.
Arsenal dominated possession, but Brentford started on the sharper, more goal-oriented side and won a series of 50-50s.
Then, just as Arsenal threatened to decline, they equalised.
Thomas Partey lashed out from the edge of the penalty area, Mark Flokken pushed out but Jesus reacted quickest and answered the rebound with a diving header.
It was the Brazilian's sixth goal in four games (the rest all against Crystal Palace) and it was a lifeline the Gunners hardly deserved.
Arteta's men were buoyed by their goal and held off Brentford for the rest of the half.
Damsgaard floored Jesus with what looked like an accidental elbow and the VAR found nothing to get excited about.
Early in the second half, Arsenal took full control of proceedings, scoring twice in the space of two minutes, with Nwaneri playing his part in both.
The boy had threatened in the first period without much end product, but five minutes after the restart he whipped in a corner, Fleks completely botched his shot, Jesus had a shot blocked and Spanish midfielder Merino pounced on the ball to poke home.
It was Arsenal's 25th Premier League goal from a corner since the start of last season – nine more than any other club.
“Another set-piece, ole, ole,” the away fans sang, although their dead-ball guru Nico Jover – once of Brentford – couldn't take much credit for this.
Soon it was 3-1. Nwaneri curled up in a poor center causing chaos, Nathan Collins could only swerve as far as Martinelli, who fired a shot into the far corner with deadly accuracy.
Jesus quickly came close to fourth and it never looked like Arsenal would let the hosts back in.
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