Arsenal's slim Premier League title hopes were dealt another blow after a 1-1 draw with Brentford at the Emirates Stadium.
Just four days after a stunning 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta's men were brought back to earth with a draw that left them 10 points behind Liverpool having played one more game.
Thomas Partey opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 61st minute, but Brentford responded through Yoane Wissa 13 minutes later.
The draw means Liverpool can extend their lead to 13 points with a win over West Ham at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool can be crowned champions as early as next weekend if Arsenal lose their next game at Ipswich and Arne Sloth's side beat West Ham and then Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Easter Sunday.
Arteta, who made five changes but retained set-piece hero Declan Rice, who had earlier excelled against Madrid, was clearly elated on the touchline, shouting “Let's go!” in an attempt to encourage his players after a sluggish opening 20 minutes that felt like a showpiece.
And it was the visitors who created the first real chance of the game when Bryan Mbeumo passed through Kristoffer Ajer but David Raya was on target.
Kieran Tierney fired home from Ethan Nwaneri's cross in the 26th minute, but the Scotland international was ruled offside and VAR intervened.
Christian Norgaard may have been lucky to escape a red card when his aerial tackle on Gabriel Martinelli was only judged to be a cautionable offence, a decision Arteta was furious about.
Mark Flecken took no chances when Oleksandr Zinchenko played a low pass that was deflected out for a corner and the goalkeeper
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
