Premier League: Gunners Out to Preserve Advantage

Arsenal vs Brentford

If, in the wake of Sunday’s compelling 1-1 draw with Chelsea in a fiery London derby, anyone had suggested to me that Arsenal should be disappointed, I’d have politely disagreed.

Sure, playing against 10 men for an hour should be the trigger for victory for the side that has the numerical advantage.

But when you consider it was the third game in eight days for the Gunners, all against top-quality opposition, such intensity in a short space of time was bound to take its toll.

Furthermore, when you consider that Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders were without both of their first-choice centre-backs, their big-money summer signing up front and their reserve centre-forward (fit enough for the bench for the first time in almost 11 months), and you can see why the result was still a very acceptable one.

There is little time to recover though as they prepare to host Brentford in midweek.

 

Talking Points

The Gunners will be waiting on the fitness of centre-back William Saliba, who picked up an injury in training, which ruled him out of the visit to Stamford Bridge.

The France international has cemented his reputation as one of the division’s finest defenders, forming a formidable partnership alongside Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s backline.

Indeed, his impressive performances have sparked transfer speculation linking him with a potential switch to Real Madrid, as the Spanish giants consider reinforcing their defensive options.

With Gabriel ruled out until the New Year, though, the North Londoners can ill afford to lose Saliba for a length of time.

Arteta should have been encouraged by the displays from summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, who played together for the first time in the heart of defence against Chelsea.

The draw capped a week in which they hit North London rivals Spurs for four before turning on the style to see off Bayern Munich in Europe.

Ahead of Wednesday night, the difference in spending power between the two clubs was best illustrated this summer when Arsenal signed former Brentford captain, Christian Norgaard, who now spends much of his time on the Gunners’ bench.

I mentioned at the start of the Premier League season that I feared for Brentford this term but my word how wrong I have been. 24 hours before Arsenal completed a hectic week, Brentford were producing Premier League 2025 highlights of their own and a late show to defeat newly promoted Burnley.

It was a game which further cemented the reputation of Brazilian striker Igor Thiago after he took his tally for the season to 11 goals in 13 games with a late double.

In a game that remained goalless until the 81st minute, the Brazilian striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Zian Flemming replied for Burnley with a penalty at the other end four minutes later.

Brentford regained the lead a minute later, as Thiago smashed home from close range before Dango Ouattara sealed the victory in injury time to inflict fourth straight defeat on the struggling Clarets.

Thiago, also eligible to play for Bulgaria, is currently uncapped by Brazil, but is the highest-scoring Brazilian in Europe’s top five leagues.

Only prolific Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (14) has scored more goals in the Premier League this season and he will be the main threat the hosts need to keep an eye on.

It’s the Gunners against the Bees.

 

History

This is a contest which has only taken place 22 times – nine of those meetings in the past four years.

The spoils were shared in the corresponding fixture last term when an opener from Thomas Partey (now of Villarreal) was cancelled out by Yoane Wissa (now of Newcastle).

Arsenal had won at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day when a first-half opener from Bryan Mbeumo was overturned by Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli.

Brentford have only won once on Arsenal turf, a 2-0 success in April 1938 at Highbury in Division One.

Their inaugural clash was in the FA Cup, a qualifying round tie which ended 1-1 between Brentford and the then Woolwich Arsenal who went onto win the replay 5-0 at the Manor Ground, Plumstead (then home of the Gunners), four days later.

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Premier League 2025 betting odds are Arsenal all the way with 1X2 @ 1.28 and Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 1.92. Brentford are very much adrift of that, both 1X2 @ 8.00 and Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 1.98.

A second successive draw won’t be fancied by many but will earn a very tidy pay day either through 1X2 Draw @ 5.00 or another 1-1 draw with Correct Score @ 10.00.

There has never been a goalless draw between the sides and that is reflected in odds of Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.92, compared to 2-3 @ 2.06, 4-6 @ 2.78 and Over 3.00 @ 2.14.

The Gunners are the pacesetters and want to keep it this way.

   

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