[Source: Reuters]

Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Brentford after Yoane Wissa’s fine finish to leave Liverpool within three wins of clinching the Premier League title.

Arsenal suffered a minor first-half come down from their exhilarating 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg victory over visiting Real Madrid in midweek, with the hosts struggling to beak down a well-organised Brentford side.

Thomas Partey put Arsenal in front just after the hour mark following great work from Declan Rice, the two-goal hero against Real, but Wissa levelled with a hooked 74th-minute finish.

Second-placed Arsenal never really looked like finding a late winner, leaving leaders Liverpool, who host lowly West Ham United on Sunday, 10 points clear with a game in hand, while Brentford climbed to 11th in the standings.

Arteta made multiple changes with one eye on next week’s second leg in Madrid as Europe is now their focus given Liverpool are so far ahead in the domestic title race.

A flat first half came to life when Kieran Tierney, making his first league start for Arsenal in almost two years, headed home, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review, utilising new semi-automated offside technology.

Brentford looked comfortable and had the best chance of the opening period, Kristoffer Ajer denied by a smart save from David Raya.

Rice’s brilliance on the counter, where he carried the ball from one half to the other before slotting Partey through, was just the lift the Gunners needed.

The England midfielder has been involved in 16 goals in 44 games in all competitions this season – seven goals and nine assists – his joint-best return in a single campaign.

Normally a major threat from set pieces themselves, Arsenal conceded from one down the other end, with Wissa steering his 15th league goal of the season past Raya.

Arteta’s side have dropped 16 points from winning positions this term – one fewer than they had in the past two campaigns combined – which has really put paid to their title challenge.

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