Arsenal face confident Brentford side missing 4
Arsenal travel to Brentford knowing three points are vital as the title race tightens and their midweek trip leaves little room for error.
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Arsenal head towards Brentford for the final game of the midweek round, knowing there is little margin for error in the title race, with the possibility of their lead at the top being reduced to three points. Manchester City defeat Fulham Wednesday evening.
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Three points against the Bees are essential for Mikel Artetaside as the pressure continues to build.
Brentford became one of the surprise packages of the season. Many expected that they would have difficulties after the departure of Thomas Franckwho left to join Tottenhamwith its replacement by Keith Andrewswho was promoted without first team management experience.
The club also lost its captain Christian Norgaardwho joined the Arsenal bench, while Yohan Wissa joined Newcastle United And Bryan Mbuemo moved to Manchester United.
Despite these significant losses, Brentford have adapted impressively and currently sit in seventh place, level on points with Liverpoolsix ahead of Newcastle and 10 ahead of Frank’s Tottenham. They remain firmly in contention for a European place, with just 10 points separating them Villa Aston in third of Everton in eighth grade.
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Brentford, like Arsenal, will be without several players on Thursday evening.
Fabio Carvalho remains sidelined with a long-term problem after undergoing surgery, with Andrews previously confirming the operation went well.
Antoni Milambo is also absent long term following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Kevin Schade is unavailable due to suspension, serving the second match of a three-match ban, while former Arsenal kid, Josh DaSilva, continues his recovery after a long absence from a knee injury, with Andrews saying in December that he was progressing well but was not yet ready to return, with hopes of seeing him again later this month.
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Brentford’s first ever Premier League win came against Arsenal in August 2021 in that infamous Friday night game which should have been postponed because many Arsenal players had covid, but since then they have been winless in eight meetings with the Gunners.
Arsenal have won their last three league visits to the Gtech Community Stadium by an aggregate score of 7-1, while Brentford have managed just one victory in their last 11 home derbies in London.
Arsenal, by contrast, have lost just one of their last 23 Premier League derbies in London and remain unbeaten in their last 12 midweek league matches, although Thursday nights have recently been less kind in terms of wins or goals (neither in the last three).
For Arsenal, the equation is simple. With matches in the title race dwindling and rivals waiting for the slightest slip-up, this is a match they must manage successfully, against an opponent who has already shown this season that they are more than capable of punishing complacency. They recently beat Villa at Villa Park with just 10 men. They also beat Newcastle (a), but also failed to beat Spurs in either league match, which isn’t a good look for anyone this season.