Arsenal vs. Brentford
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kick off: 3PM
Seeking to avoid a third successive defeat across all competitions, Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium this afternoon for a London derby against Brentford in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side were stunned 1-0 by relegation-threatened Everton last time out, while the Bees cruised to a 3-0 triumph over Southampton to further their European ambitions.
The ingredients for an upset were there, and Arsenal were served a slice of humble pie at Goodison Park – a ground that has not treated them well in recent years – as a physically dominant Everton side deservedly handed the Gunners just their second league defeat of the season.
Under the tutelage of football pragmatist Sean Dyche, Everton put in the hard graft that would have delighted the ex-Burnley boss to no end, and they got their reward on the hour mark as James Tarkowski easily out-muscled Martin Odegaard to head home from a corner.
However, the whole of North London was cheering on Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur edged Manchester City 1-0, leaving the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand, and an eight-point lead will temporarily be theirs should they return to winning ways.
The threat of sanctions against Man City following their series of charges for alleged financial breaches is music to the ears of Arsenal fans, but any potential punishments – including points deductions – will not be administered for some time yet, so keeping the champions at bay for now is of paramount importance before the two sides clash at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Still unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season – only Newcastle United can also boast that feat – Arsenal welcome Brentford to the Emirates having won eight and drawn one of their last nine home fixtures in the top flight, albeit while keeping just two clean sheets in that time.
The Gtech Community Stadium also played host to a match between a capital side and basement battlers, but there was to be no reprieve for Southampton at the home of the buzzing Bees, who strolled to a 3-0 win over their South Coast counterparts.
Ben Mee’s brave header, Bryan Mbeumo’s finish and Mathias Jensen’s third capped off a brilliant afternoon for Thomas Frank’s side, who are taking full advantage of Chelsea and Liverpool’s misfortunes to put themselves right in the European mix.
Indeed, Frank’s crop travel to the Emirates sitting pretty in seventh in the table, just six points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand and one below Brighton & Hove Albion, although the Seagulls have played one game fewer too.
Victory over Southampton extended Brentford’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to an impressive nine games, and Frank’s staunch defence have only conceded one goal in their last five top-flight matches – keeping clean sheets in each of their last three.
However, Brentford have won just twice away from home all season – although one of those successes did come at Man City – and Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium in September, a game that will be best remembered for the introduction of the Premier League’s youngest-ever player, 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal possible XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus.
Brentford possible XI: Raya, Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Dasilva, Norgaard, Jensen, Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa.
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