🕠 Kick Off: 17:30 GMT

📍 Location: Emirates Stadium, Islington, North London

📺 UK Broadcaster: Sky Sports

🙎🏻‍♂️ Referee: Robert Jones

🔴 Arsenal Team News:

• David Raya is ineligible to play against his parent club.
• Gabriel Martinelli was taken off as a precaution against Sheffield United, extent of injury unknown but probably nothing serious – expected to be fit for this game.
• Bukaya Saka was taken off at half time against Sheffield United after he reportedly felt sick during the game. Like Gabi, he is expected to be fit for this game.
• Takehiro Tomiyasu has yet to return to the matchday squad since his injury after returning from the Asia Cup, but he edges closer to fitness.
• Jurrien Timber remains in recovery following his ACL injury.

Mikel Arteta’s full Pre-Match press conference.

⚽ Arsenal Form: 🟩🟩🟥🟩🟩

🐝 Brentford Team News:

• Brentford’s top G/A contributor Bryan Mbuemo misses the match with an ankle injury.
• Kevin Schade is out with a hip injury.
• Ethan Pinnock also misses the game with an ankle injury.
• Aaron Hickey misses with game with a hamstring issue.
• Ben Mee has played for the last time this season following an ankle injury.
• A knee injury sees Rico Henry absent for this game.
• Josh Dasilva is unavailable due to injury.

⚽ Brentford Form: 🟨🟥🟥🟥🟩

📖 Match Facts:

• Brentford have already conceded four more goals this season than they did in the entirety of last season.
• Kai Havertz in his last 3 Premier League games has 3 goals, 2 assists, matching his total from the previous 32 matches (4 goals, 1 assist).
• Brentford have only won once in nine visits to Arsenal in all competitions (D4 L4), achieving a 2-0 league victory in April 1938.
• Arsenal has suffered only one defeat in their last 10 clashes with Brentford across all competitions (W7 D2). This lone loss occurred in the Bees’ first-ever Premier League game in August 2021, ending in a 2-0 defeat.

🎲 Odds (Betway):

• Arsenal – 2/9
• Draw – 5/1
• Brentford – 12/1

	Team	P		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		GD	PTS
1	Liverpool	27		11	2	0	37	11		8	4	2	27	14		19	6	2	64	25		39	63
2	Manchester City	27		10	4	0	34	12		9	1	3	28	15		19	5	3	62	27		35	62
3	Arsenal	27		10	2	1	34	12		9	2	3	34	11		19	4	4	68	23		45	61
4	Aston Villa	27		10	1	2	35	15		7	3	4	24	22		17	4	6	59	37		22	55
5	Tottenham Hotspur	26		10	0	4	29	19		5	5	2	26	20		15	5	6	55	39		16	50
6	Manchester United	27		7	1	5	19	20		7	1	6	18	19		14	2	11	37	39		-2	44
7	West Ham United	27		6	4	3	22	19		6	2	6	21	28		12	6	9	43	47		-4	42
8	Newcastle United	27		9	2	3	34	16		3	2	8	23	29		12	4	11	57	45		12	40
9	Brighton & Hove Albion	27		6	6	1	27	16		4	3	7	22	28		10	9	8	49	44		5	39
10	Wolverhampton Wanderers	27		6	3	4	20	20		5	2	7	20	23		11	5	11	40	43		-3	38
11	Chelsea	26		5	3	4	20	18		5	3	6	24	25		10	6	10	44	43		1	36
12	Fulham	27		8	1	5	26	15		2	4	7	13	27		10	5	12	39	42		-3	35
13	Bournemouth	26		3	4	5	12	18		5	3	6	23	29		8	7	11	35	47		-12	31
14	Crystal Palace	27		4	3	6	18	19		3	4	7	14	28		7	7	13	32	47		-15	28
15	Brentford	27		4	4	6	24	29		3	1	9	15	21		7	5	15	39	50		-11	26
16	Everton	27		3	4	7	15	18		5	3	5	14	19		8	7	12	29	37		-8	25
17	Nottingham Forest	27		4	3	7	19	21		2	3	8	15	28		6	6	15	34	49		-15	24
18	Luton Town	26		3	2	9	21	25		2	3	7	16	29		5	5	16	37	54		-17	20
19	Burnley	27		1	2	11	13	34		2	2	9	12	26		3	4	20	25	60		-35	13
20	Sheffield United	27		2	2	10	12	42		1	2	10	10	30		3	4	20	22	72		-50	13

✍🏼 Pre-Match Ramblings

A home win would see Arsenal return to the top of the table for the first time since Christmas, albeit probably temporarily as Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday. This will be one to keep a close eye on as our title rivals battle to take points off eachother. Objectively speaking, a draw is the best result here – both dropping points. Should this happen, we will end the gameweek top of the table with our fate firmly back in our own hands. However, as we all know, this is a very precarious position to be in with far more pressure than being the hunters.

Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks is something to watch here as he starts what may very well be his final game for Arsenal, if the trend of Raya being nailed on number 1 continues (as it looks like it will). I expect a wonderful reception for the English keeper who gave us the best season of his career last season. Now, in terms of playstyle, we may miss Raya more than some may think. The Spaniard’s long ball out to Martinelli has become a tried and tested outlet for attack. Does Ramsdale have this kind of ball in his locker? It remains to be seen. David Raya has silenced the debate about his necessity in the squad with fantastic performances that have taken him to the top of the clean sheets chart this season, although he will be thanking his defence if he doesnt win the golden glove.

🔮 Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Brentford