Preview: Brentford v Arsenal | Pre-Match Report | News
With the season's final league fixture before a 10-day hiatus approaching, we travel to the capital to face the high-flying Brentford on Thursday (8 pm UK time), aiming to maintain our lead at the top of the table.
Following a four-game winning streak and three clean sheets, our focus shifts to the FA Cup after securing maximum points at the Gtech Community Stadium, a feat we've achieved in each of the past three campaigns.
However, Brentford, under Keith Andrews' leadership, have been formidable at home, losing just twice in 12 games this season, albeit one of those defeats coming against Nottingham Forest in their last match in west London.
Andrews silences critics
Despite initial predictions of relegation following key player exits, Andrews has quietly steered Brentford towards a potential first-ever European qualification with 13 games remaining. A week before Christmas, they were in 15th place, but six wins and a draw in the subsequent nine matches have propelled them up the table.
Notable victories include a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, where they played with 10 men for over half the game, and a 3-2 triumph at Newcastle United, with Dango Outtarra scoring the winning goals. They reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals before losing to Manchester City and will face National League South side Macclesfield in the FA Cup fourth round after our match, fueling hopes of a successful campaign.
Manager's insights
Arteta: "We're navigating various competitions weekly, which keeps things fresh. We aim to assess our capabilities in a short timeframe, focusing on the present and future. It's a challenging game, and we acknowledge Brentford's recent success and strong coaching staff."
Andrews: "We're a formidable attacking force with a well-rounded playing style. Despite the difficulty, we're confident in our abilities. They're the best team in the country, and we must be prepared for a demanding match."
Team updates
Arteta will monitor the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard for the trip, as they missed the wins against Chelsea and Sunderland last week. Mikel Merino has undergone foot surgery, while Max Dowman is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Brentford will be without Kevin Schade, who received a red card in the victory over Villa, and Reiss Nelson, who is ineligible to face his parent club. Long-term injuries include Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo, and Josh Dasilva, who has been out for over two years but recently signed a short-term contract.
Tactical insights
Adrian Clarke: Brentford's playing style, characterized by percentage football, has proven effective. While they don't rely on long balls, their distribution is accurate and purposeful. Set plays are a key strength, with right-back Michael Kayode excelling in long throws.
The formation Brentford chooses for this match is intriguing. They employed a 5-3-2 in the reverse fixture but have been successful with a 4-2-3-1, allowing winger Ouatarra to utilize his pace. Brentford's attacking prowess is evident with 76 'big chances' created, ranking them just behind us and Manchester City.
However, their defense is not infallible under pressure, and they've conceded in nine of their 12 home games. Igor Thiago's clinical finishing, with 17 goals, has been a standout this season.
Key statistics and facts
- Brentford has won just one of their last 14 matches against us across all competitions, with no wins in their last nine since their debut Premier League game in August 2021.
- In recent London derbies, Brentford has won only one of the last 11 league matches, scoring in none of the last five. They've won none of their last seven home games since August 2024.
- We've lost just one of our last 23 London derbies in the Premier League, remaining unbeaten in 10 since February 2025. Since the 2022/23 season, we've lost just one of our 20 away derbies.
- Brentford's last home league game ended in a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, snapping a seven-game unbeaten streak at the Gtech Community Stadium. They've lost consecutive home league games only twice since the start of the previous season.
- Igor Thiago has been involved in 10 goals across his last 10 home Premier League games, scoring four braces.
- Mikel Arteta has a 61% win rate in Premier League London derbies, with 41 wins out of 67. Only Arsène Wenger and Jose Mourinho have more London derby wins than Arteta.
- Bukayo Saka has more goal contributions against West Ham and Southampton than against Brentford.
Match officials
John Brooks will officiate the game, having previously managed two of our victories this season. He has refereed Brentford three times this term, including a Carabao Cup penalty shootout win, a 1-1 draw, and a 2-0 loss to Chelsea. He has issued one red card in nine Premier League games.
Referee: John Brooks
Assistants: Steve Meredith, Sian Massey-Ellis
Fourth official: John Busby
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis
Recent encounters
Since their first Premier League victory over us in August 2021, Brentford has been winless in four consecutive meetings at the Gtech Community Stadium across all competitions.
We secured a 3-1 win in west London on New Year's Eve, recovering from Bryan Mbuemo's early goal with goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli.
Kai Havertz's 89th-minute goal secured a win in November 2023, while Nelson's goal in the previous match led to a passage to the League Cup fourth round. The other victory was a 3-0 win in September 2022, with goals from William Saliba, Jesus, and Fabio Vieira.
Live coverage
Tune in to Live From N5 just before kickoff for live commentary by Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke, who will provide in-depth coverage of the match.
