Gabriel Jesus scored a stunning header as Brentford were ruthlessly put to the sword in a 3-0 defeat at home to league leaders Arsenal.

The Brazilian’s fourth Gunners goal came either side of a flicked William Saliba header and a brilliant drive from Fabio Vieira as Mikel Arteta’s side banished memories of a bruising 2-0 defeat suffered at the Gtech Community Stadium on the opening day of last season.

It was an off-colour display from the hosts, who mustered just two shots on target on their way to a second defeat of the campaign, and first at home.

While Brentford were dealt an injury boost pre-match with the return of centre-back Kristoffer Ajer to the starting line-up, Arsenal were left cursing after Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard failed to recover from slight knocks.

But despite the absence of two key ball progressors, Arsenal were on top from the off. The hosts didn’t have a kick inside the first 90 seconds and were nearly behind when a golden opportunity fell the way of Gabriel Martinelli, but the Brazilian’s effort was not a clean one, and the ball rolled safely into the arms of David Raya.

The Bees responded well though and some sections of the home support thought they were ahead when Rico Henry’s far-post cross found Bryan Mbeumo’s head, but Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was equal to the Frenchman's effort. 

The hosts then began to assert themselves with Arsenal growing in impatience, having initially failed to capitalise on their early dominance. 

So it was all the more frustrating when the north Londoners took the lead via a set piece. William Saliba notched his second Arsenal goal with a deft header from Bukayo Saka’s corner, which was awarded with the aid of goal-line technology on 17 minutes.

Arsenal’s second ten minutes later, another header, was even better. The men in black knocked the ball around patiently on the edge of the box before Granit Xhaka picked out Gabriel Jesus. 

With the ball slightly behind him, Jesus had to arch his back to establish clean contact but managed to divert the ball brilliantly towards the top corner of Raya’s net, with the Spaniard only able to get fingertips to Jesus’ first Arsenal goal away from the Emirates Stadium.

That strike deflated the Bees, who had lost the intensity with which they played in the opening quarter and failed to test Ramsdale again prior to the break.

And just four minutes into the second half, the game was over. Vieira picked up the ball midway inside his own half and with few options ahead of him, unleashed a dipping effort which flicked in off Raya’s post for the second time in the contest, sparkling delirium among the travelling Arsenal fans who were present to witness the Portuguese’s first goal in England.

Brentford then tried to forge a way back into the game. A cute flick and volley from Ivan Toney may have had Ramsdale worried for a brief moment but his goal never looked like being troubled.

Arsenal were very much in the mood and nearly had a fourth just short of the hour mark. Xhaka poked the ball through to Jesus, who’s low shot was kept out by Raya’s quick feet. 

By this stage, Mikel Arteta’s team were slicing through the Brentford midfield with ease, and Raya had to be at his very best once more to deny a curling effort from Saka.

The visitors were in cruise control as the game neared its conclusion, and there was even time for the introduction of 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who became Arsenal’s youngest ever player when sent on in the 89th minute.

When the final whistle eventually came, Brentford may have felt relieved, as a difficult afternoon drew to a close.

Heading into the international break, the Bees sit ninth with nine points and face away trips to Bournemouth and Newcastle when the Premier League gets back underway in October.