MX23RW : Friday, November 24 10:21:33| >> :60:2182:2182:
[monks data]
Brentford logo
Premier League | Gameweek 13
Nov 25, 2023 at 5.30pm UK
Lner Community Stadium
Arsenal logo
Brentford
vs.
Arsenal

Preview: Brentford vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Brentford and Arsenal, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Depending on the outcome of Manchester City and Liverpool's lunchtime encounter, Arsenal could potentially end the weekend at the top of the Premier League table with victory over London rivals Brentford on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta's team put Burnley to the sword 3-1 before international football took precedence, while the Bees were comfortably swept aside 3-0 by Liverpool two weekends ago.


Match preview

Brentford manager Thomas Frank celebrates after the match on October 21, 2023© Reuters

Burnley, Chelsea and West Ham United had all succumbed to Brentford's attacking superiority in the three games that preceded the Bees' trip to Liverpool's Anfield fortress, where Alisson Becker was called into action on a couple of occasions, but the visitors' powers ultimately waned.

A pair of Mohamed Salah finishes and a stunning Diogo Jota strike propelled the Reds to a convincing three-goal win over the Bees, whose head coach Thomas Frank wagged his finger in disapproval when Wataru Endo escaped a red card for catching Christian Norgaard with his studs, but the Dane could have had few qualms with the full-time scoreline.

On account of their first defeat of the month, the Bees were bumped down to 11th place in the standings by Chelsea owing to their West London counterparts' 4-4 draw with Manchester City, but they remain mathematically closer to the top four than the relegation zone.

A record of four wins, four draws and four defeats from their opening 12 fixtures defines the term mid-table mediocrity for Brentford, but their offensive qualities at the Gtech Community Stadium are not up for debate, as they are out to score for the 20th Premier League home game running this weekend.

Furthermore, only three teams have defeated the Bees at the Gtech in the top flight since the start of last term, although one member of that trio was Arsenal, who will also endeavour to replicate their recent EFL Cup success over their London rivals en route to a possible first-placed ranking.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured before the match on November 8, 2023© Reuters

As was the case after the Gunners' excruciating loss to Newcastle United earlier this month, head coach Mikel Arteta was immediately asked for his thoughts on a refereeing decision to go against his side, as Fabio Vieira's horrendous challenge on Burnley's Josh Brownhill warranted a straight red card.

However, the Spaniard stopped short of labelling the decision a "disgrace" this time around and was all smiles after witnessing Leandro Trossard, William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko produce the goods in a 3-1 victory for his side, even going as far to praise the officials - perhaps in a tongue-in-cheek manner - for dismissing Vieira in the dying embers.

By deepening Burnley's demotion woes, Arsenal snapped a two-game domestic losing run to sit pretty in third place in the table, behind Liverpool on goal difference and only one point worse off than Man City, so the throne will be theirs with a win if the lunchtime Etihad encounter ends level.

The Gunners are a far cry from the team that opened the season with four wins and four clean sheets in four away matches, though, as they have since prevailed in just one of their last five contests on enemy territory and could now lose three in a row on the road for the first time since December 2021.

As mentioned, though, Arsenal's last two trips to Brentford's turf have been worthwhile, as a 3-0 top-flight success in September 2022 preceded a 1-0 EFL Cup third-round win in September, although the Gtech will forever be remembered as the location of the Bees' first-ever Premier League win over Arteta's troops two years ago.

Brentford Premier League form:

Arsenal Premier League form:


Arsenal form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:


Team News

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya pictured on September 17, 2023© Reuters

Amid incessant talk of a possible January switch to the red half of North London, Brentford talisman Ivan Toney will watch his admirers from the sidelines as he continues his lengthy suspension, while former Gunners youth player Josh Dasilva is one of a handful of doubts due to a thigh injury.

Keane Lewis-Potter (calf) and Mikkel Damsgaard (knee) are also on the touch-and-go list, but there is no chance of Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh) or Kevin Schade (adductor) being available for the visit of the Gunners.

Frank's switch to a five-man defence did not pay dividends at Anfield, but by reverting to a four-man backline here, the door will swing open for Neal Maupay - Gooners' public enemy number one after the Bernd Leno incident in 2020 - to spearhead the hosts' attack.

Speaking of Arsenal goalkeepers, Arteta cannot deploy David Raya as the last line of defence this weekend as the Brentford loanee is ineligible to face his parent club, so Aaron Ramsdale will make his first Premier League start in over two-and-a-half months here.

Vieira is also beginning a three-match domestic ban but would not have started anyway, while Emile Smith Rowe (knee), Jurrien Timber (knee) and Thomas Partey (thigh) are known absentees, but Gabriel Jesus made a quicker-than-expected return from a hamstring injury in time to represent Brazil in World Cup qualifying.

It would be a shock to see Jesus thrown back into the Arsenal XI straight away, though, while Martin Odegaard (head), Ben White (knock) and Cedric Soares (illness) will need assessment closer to the time, but there is hope that the former will make his comeback in the London derby.


Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Roerslev; Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen; Mbeumo, Maupay, Wissa

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli


SM words green background

We say: Brentford 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal have followed the recipe for defensive success during their last two trips to the Gtech, but attempting to keep Brentford quiet in front of their own fans may be a fruitless endeavour this time around, as it has been for a plethora of other revered teams.

Frank's troops have been prone to a defensive lapse this season as well, though, and with Odegaard expected to be given the all-clear to return to the fold, Arsenal should right their recent wrongs on the road and march to consecutive win number three.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data

ID:529608:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect16985:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Data Pass: [t, premier-league, odds, 3555211]
Advert - more content below:

Who will win Saturday's Premier League clash between Brentford and Arsenal?

Brentford
Draw
Arsenal
Brentford
15.6%
Draw
10.9%
Arsenal
73.4%
64
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard pictured in August 2023
Read Next:
Mikel Arteta issues update on Martin Odegaard, Ben White injuries
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
MLS Apple TV+ Messi promo
Today's games header
FT
49ers
31-13
Seahawks
8pm
Dolphins
@
Jets
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1291232122028
2Liverpool1283127101727
3Arsenal1283126101627
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs128222415926
5Aston Villa1281329171225
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd127051316-321
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1262427131420
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton125432521419
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham125252122-117
10Chelsea124442116516
11Brentford124441917216
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves124351620-415
13Crystal Palace124351216-415
14Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest123451418-413
15Fulham123361020-1012
16Bournemouth122371127-169
17Luton TownLuton121381022-126
18Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd121291031-215
19Everton124261417-34
20Burnley121110930-214

MLS Apple TV+ Messi promo
New Apple Music general promo - 300x250

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!