We don’t have to wait long for our first taste of the Premier League in 2025 as Arsenal travel to Brentford on New Year’s Day.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 11 games on Friday night beating Ipswich Town 1-0 in North London. The Premier League title contenders are unlikely to dazzle as Bukayo Saka recovers from hamstring surgery, so efficiency will be key in their bid to keep pace with leaders Liverpool.
The Reds extended their lead over Arsenal at the top to nine points with a 5-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.
Liverpool’s brilliance means the Gunners’ margin for error is slim, and they travel to one of the league’s most successful home teams on Wednesday. Brentford, however, are currently decimated by injuries and are without a win in four games.
The west Londoners were beaten at Gtech for the first time this season in their previous home game against Nottingham Forest before Christmas and currently sit 12th in the table.
Here 90 minutes a guide to Brentford in relation to Arsenal on New Year’s.
Brentford vs Arsenal H2H results (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Brentford |
Arsenal |
|---|---|
|
Brighton 0-0 Brentford – 27.12.24 |
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich – 27.12.24 |
|
Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest – 21.12.24 |
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal – 21.12.24 |
|
Newcastle 3-1 Brentford – 18.12.24 |
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace – 18.12.24 |
|
Chelsea 2-1 Brentford – 15.12.24 |
Arsenal 0-0 Everton – 14.12.24 |
|
Brentford 4-2 Newcastle – 12.07.24 |
Arsenal 3-0 Monaco – 12.11.24 |
|
Earth |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
TNT Sports Ultimate, TNT Sports 1, Discovery+, Discovery+ app |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Brentford’s injury problems only seem to be getting worse. Crucially, Thomas Frank has Bryan Mbeum and Yoane Wiss available in the New Year, but the Bees are particularly hampered in defence.
They lost Mark Flekken and Ben Mee to injury at Brighton on Friday night, with both players questionable for this New Year’s game. Mathias Jensen and Sepp van den Berg are most likely to return after their shots, but the pair could miss out again.
Ethan Pinnock could miss most of January with a hamstring injury, while Kristoffer Ajer, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago are also out for the hosts.
Brentford predicted the line-up against Arsenal (4-3-3): Valdimarsson; Roerslev, Collins, Kim, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade.
There are no fresh concerns from Friday night’s triumph over Ipswich, but there could be a bit of a reshuffle for Arteta.
Riccardo Calafiori was an unused substitute last time out after recently returning from a groin injury. He will surely feature at Gtech, but Myles Lewis-Skelly’s form at left-back does not justify dropping him.
Mikel Merino could also make the team with Kai Havertz starting at number one. Arsenal are without winger Saka and loanee Raheem Sterling with hamstring and knee injuries, while full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out.
Predicted line-up of Arsenal against Brentford (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus.
The decimated hosts have often blown away teams at home this season, but they have work to do here as they were beaten by a transition-heavy Forest before Christmas.
Arsenal will dominate possession in west London and will aim to stifle the Bees through an aggressive defensive line and ferocious counter-pressing. Brentford’s effectiveness once they regain possession will be key in determining how much success they have against a solid Gunners side that lacks ruthless edge.
With Saka’s absence in attack, Arsenal are even more prone to endure similar outings to their draws at Fulham and Everton in December.
This could be one of those days for Arteta’s men against a weakened Brentford side.
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Arsenal
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