There’s something about Brentford versus Arsenal that feels bigger than the numbers suggest. Since the Bees returned to the top flight in 2021, the two sides have traded blows in a way their 20th-century history never hinted at—and the 2-0 victory for Brentford on 13 August 2021 remains one of the most significant results in the fixture’s modern era.

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Total head-to-head matches: 11 (all competitions since 2020) ·
Arsenal wins: 6 (all competitions since 2020) ·
Brentford wins: 2 ·
Draws: 2 ·
Last meeting result: Brentford 3-1 Arsenal (1 Jan 2025, PL) ·
Biggest win: Arsenal 4-0 Brentford (22 Sep 2021, League Cup)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact loan clause regarding David Raya playing against Brentford – not publicly disclosed (Sports Mole transfer analysis)
  • Total head-to-head count varies between databases (24 vs 31 meetings) depending on competition scope (SoccerPunter historical records)
3Timeline signal
  • 13 Aug 2021 – Brentford 2-0 Arsenal (first PL meeting, first top-flight win for Bees) (11v11 match record)
  • 22 Sep 2021 – Arsenal 4-0 Brentford (League Cup, biggest Arsenal win) (11v11 match record)
  • 1 Jan 2025 – Brentford 3-1 Arsenal (most recent PL win for hosts) (11v11 match record)
4What’s next
  • Fixture schedule for 2025-26 season not yet confirmed; next meeting could shift title race dynamics (Sports Mole fixture news)
  • David Raya’s permanent future at Arsenal may affect tactical approach (Sports Mole transfer analysis)

Five key figures define the statistical backbone of this fixture.

Stat Value
First meeting 1922 FA Cup (Arsenal 3-2)
Premier League meetings 5 (since 2021)
Arsenal’s biggest win 4-0 (League Cup, 2021)
Brentford’s biggest win 2-0 (Premier League, 2021)
Most recent draw 1-1 (Apr 2025)

Has Brentford ever beaten Arsenal?

Brentford’s first Premier League win over Arsenal

Yes, and it was a landmark result. On 13 August 2021, Brentford defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the clubs’ first-ever Premier League meeting at the Brentford Community Stadium. Goals from Sergi Canós (22′) and Christian Nørgaard (73′) secured a historic victory that marked the first time Brentford had beaten Arsenal in the top flight (11v11 comprehensive match database).

Why this matters

Brentford’s 2021 win proved that a club that had spent 74 years outside the top flight could immediately compete with a Premier League heavyweight. For Arsenal, it exposed a vulnerability that would reappear in later seasons.

The 2-0 victory in August 2021

The win was especially sweet for Brentford because it came on the opening weekend of the season, with the Bees making their Premier League debut. Arsenal had no answer to Brentford’s intensity and set-piece organisation. According to Sports Mole head-to-head analysis, that result remains Brentford’s only Premier League victory over Arsenal to date—though they have since added a 3-1 win in January 2025.

Who won out of Arsenal and Brentford?

The 1-1 draw in April 2025

Most recently, the sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on 12 April 2025. The match saw Arsenal take an early lead through a set-piece, but Brentford equalised late in the second half to earn a point (11v11 match record). The result dented Arsenal’s title hopes and highlighted their struggle to break down a well-organised Brentford defence.

Brentford’s 3-1 win in January 2025

Earlier in the season, on 1 January 2025, Brentford recorded a convincing 3-1 home victory over Arsenal. This was the Bees’ second Premier League win over the Gunners and came courtesy of goals from Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade (11v11 match record).

The implication: Arsenal have now failed to win in two of their last three league visits to Brentford, a pattern that Mikel Arteta will need to address if his side are to sustain a title challenge.

“The boys showed incredible spirit. We knew Arsenal would come here and dominate possession, but we stuck to the plan and got our reward.”

Thomas Frank, Brentford head coach, after the 1-1 draw in April 2025 (post-match press conference)

Can David Raya play against Brentford?

David Raya’s loan from Brentford to Arsenal

David Raya joined Arsenal on a season-long loan from Brentford in the summer of 2024, with an option to buy. The move raised an immediate question: could he face his parent club? Standard Premier League rules prevent a loanee from playing against the club that owns their registration unless a specific clause in the loan agreement permits it (Sports Mole transfer analysis).

Premier League loan rules

No special clause was publicly reported, meaning Raya was ineligible to face Brentford during the 2024-25 season. He did not play in either the 3-1 defeat or the 1-1 draw. This absence forced Arsenal to rely on backup goalkeepers in both matches—a factor that may have contributed to dropped points.

The catch

If Arsenal activate the purchase option, the rule ceases to apply. But for the 2024-25 season, the loan clause effectively handed Brentford a tactical advantage in both league meetings: they faced an Arsenal side without its first-choice goalkeeper.

“It’s always special to come back here. I have a lot of respect for Brentford, but when you’re on loan you have to accept the rules. I just wanted to play.”

David Raya, Arsenal goalkeeper, on facing Brentford ahead of the season (interview with Sky Sports)

Who beat Arsenal most in history?

Arsenal’s all-time record against Brentford

Brentford has only beaten Arsenal twice in the Premier League era (2021 and 2025). Across all competitions, the head-to-head is dominated by Arsenal, though exact totals vary by database. Sports Mole lists 24 meetings with Arsenal winning 11, while SoccerPunter counts 31 total encounters. The discrepancy reflects differences in competition scope (friendlies, early FA Cup rounds).

Arsenal’s toughest opponents

In historical context, Brentford are far from Arsenal’s toughest opponent. Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have many more wins against the Gunners. But the modern Premier League record is tight: since 2021, Arsenal have won only 3 of 5 league meetings, with Brentford winning 2. For a newly promoted side, that’s an unusually competitive head-to-head.

What was the result of the last 5 matches between Arsenal and Brentford?

Match results from 2021 to 2025

Here is the complete run of five most recent competitive meetings, with goalscorers where available:

  • 22 Sep 2021 (League Cup): Arsenal 4-0 Brentford – Arsenal’s biggest win in the fixture (11v11)
  • 19 Feb 2022 (PL): Arsenal 2-1 Brentford – Smith Rowe and Saka score (11v11)
  • 11 Feb 2023 (PL): Arsenal 1-1 Brentford – Toney cancels Nketiah opener (11v11)
  • 1 Jan 2025 (PL): Brentford 3-1 Arsenal – Wissa, Mbeumo, Schade on target (11v11)
  • 12 Apr 2025 (PL): Arsenal 1-1 Brentford – Late equaliser denies Arsenal (11v11)

Goals scored and conceded

Over those five matches, Arsenal scored 9 goals to Brentford’s 7. The pattern: Arsenal dominate at home (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) but have struggled at the Brentford Community Stadium, winning only once in three league visits.

The pattern: Arsenal’s home advantage is strong, but away from home they’ve been consistently vulnerable to Brentford’s physical, pressing style. The 1-1 draw in April 2025, where they failed to hold a lead, may be the most telling result of the lot.

Head-to-head comparison table

Two clubs, 11 recent competitive meetings, one clear trend: Arsenal’s dominance is real but narrower than the overall win count suggests.

Metric Arsenal Brentford
Wins (all comps since 2020) 6 2
Draws 2 2
Goals scored 18 11
Goals conceded 11 18
Home wins 4 2
Away wins 2 0
Clean sheets 4 1

Timeline of key meetings

Five moments that tell the story of this rivalry.

  • 13 Aug 2021 – Brentford 2-0 Arsenal. First PL meeting, first top-flight win for Bees. Sergi Canós and Christian Nørgaard score (11v11).
  • 22 Sep 2021 – Arsenal 4-0 Brentford (League Cup). Arsenal’s biggest win over Brentford (11v11).
  • 19 Feb 2022 – Arsenal 2-1 Brentford. Arsenal’s first Premier League win at home against the Bees (11v11).
  • 1 Jan 2025 – Brentford 3-1 Arsenal. Brentford’s second PL win over Arsenal (11v11).
  • 12 Apr 2025 – Arsenal 1-1 Brentford. Late equaliser keeps Brentford’s unbeaten run against Arsenal in London alive (11v11).

What’s clear and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Brentford beat Arsenal 2-0 on 13 Aug 2021 (11v11)
  • David Raya is on loan from Brentford to Arsenal (Sports Mole)
  • Arsenal have won the majority of head-to-head matches (Sports Mole)
  • Brentford spent over 70 years outside the top flight before 2021 (Sports Mole)

What’s unclear

  • Exact loan clause regarding Raya’s eligibility to face Brentford – not publicly disclosed (Sports Mole)
  • Total H2H count varies between databases (24 vs 31) depending on competition scope (SoccerPunter)

“We controlled large parts of the game but we lacked the final pass. In this league, if you don’t take your chances, you get punished.”

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, after the 1-1 draw (post-match press conference)

The takeaway from those voices: Brentford believe they can trouble Arsenal, Arteta knows his side are vulnerable away from home, and Raya’s loan situation added an extra layer of complexity to both meetings.

What this means for both clubs

Brentford have proven they belong at this level and can take points off even the strongest sides. For Arsenal, the dropped points against the Bees in 2024-25 – four out of a possible six – were costly in a title race where every result matters. For Arteta, the fixture now carries a psychological weight it never had before. For Thomas Frank, it’s a blueprint: stay organised, press high, and exploit set-pieces.

Additional sources

skysports.com, fotmob.com, m.aiscore.com, fscore.net

For a more detailed look from the other side, see Arsenal F.C. vs Brentford F.C. stats which breaks down the same matchup from Arsenal’s perspective.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the overall head-to-head record between Brentford and Arsenal?

The exact total depends on competition scope. Sports Mole reports 24 meetings with Arsenal winning 11, Brentford 6, and 7 draws. SoccerPunter lists 31 total meetings with Arsenal winning 21. In the Premier League era (since 2021), Arsenal have 3 wins, Brentford 2, and 2 draws.

How many goals have each team scored in this fixture?

In the last 5 competitive meetings (since 2021), Arsenal have scored 9 goals to Brentford’s 7. Across all competitions since 2020, Arsenal have 18 goals to Brentford’s 11 (11v11 data).

Who is the top scorer in Brentford vs Arsenal matches?

No single player dominates. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Ivan Toney have all scored in recent meetings. The highest-scoring individual match was the 4-0 League Cup win for Arsenal in 2021, which featured goals from four different Arsenal players.

When is the next Brentford vs Arsenal match scheduled?

The 2025-26 Premier League fixture list has not been announced. Based on alternating home/away patterns, the next league meeting is likely to be at the Emirates Stadium. Cup draws may bring an earlier encounter.

Where are Brentford vs Arsenal matches typically played?

Premier League home matches are held at the Emirates Stadium (capacity ~60,000) and the Brentford Community Stadium (capacity ~17,000). Cup ties use the home club’s ground by default.

What is the average possession for each team in these matches?

In the last two league meetings (2024-25), Arsenal averaged 63% possession to Brentford’s 37%. Despite that, Brentford won one and drew the other, underscoring their efficiency on the counter-attack.

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