Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny are still out injured for Arsenal in the Premier League.For Emile Smith-Rowe, who is recuperating from a thigh issue, this game also comes too soon.Reiss Nelson, who has been sidelined since November due to a hamstring problem, has started exercising again but is not yet prepared to play again.Thomas Strakosha, Frank Onyeka, and Pontus Jansson are all unavailable for Brentford.
Chris Sutton's prediction:
Because of Arsenal's recent performance, their loss against Everton, and Brentford's recent record, this game is quite intriguing. They have now gone nine games without a loss.The only club to defeat the Bees at home this year was the Gunners, a 3-0 victory in September serving as the first concrete proof that Mikel Arteta's team was focused on winning the league.After that Everton loss, Arteta could really use a similar outcome this time to get back on track before Manchester City's visit to Emirates Stadium the following Wednesday.
The Gunners' performance last week was the worst I've witnessed from them this season; they didn't truly dominate the game or even appear to be in charge.They must recover from that, and I believe they will, but it won't be simple due to Brentford's street smarts, organisational prowess, and genuine offensive danger. The Bees will pose a challenge, but Arsenal will manage to prevail.
MATCH FACTS
Head-o-head
In eight league and cup matches, Brentford only managed to defeat Arsenal once, 2-0, at Highbury in April 1938. (D3, L4).The goal for Mikel Arteta's team is to defeat the Bees twice in the league, which would make them the 47th team the Gunners have defeated both at home and away in a single Premier League season.
Arsenal
The setback against Everton marked Arsenal's first in 14 league games, despite the fact that they had won eight of their nine top-flight home games this year.
The Gunners are in risk of suffering their first three straight defeats across all competitions since April 2022. The north London team is hoping to tie the record for the most victories in a single season by winning an eighth straight Premier League London derby (set by Chelsea in 2005–06 and 2014–15, and Arsenal in 2013–14).In their previous seven top-flight games against other London clubs, they had scored 16 goals and given up only three.Only one of the first 15 goals Arsenal let this season were corner kicks, but their last two Premier League goals have both come from corners.
Brentford
Only Newcastle, who are unbeaten in 16 games, has a longer current winning streak than Brentford's nine Premier League games (W5, D4).For the first time in their history, the Bees are attempting to maintain four straight clean sheets in the top division.They have preserved back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League away from home after only managing one in their previous 24 away games.Brentford has won 17 and drawn four Premier League games when scoring the game's first goal.