The Daily Star Ireland
Brentford has now been in the Premier League for four years, but the team still doesn’t have the stature of a leader in England’s top flight. Currently sitting 11th in the standings, the Bees are focusing on staying clear of the relegation zone. After their impressive 4-2 win over Newcastle on December 7, they have struggled, suffering defeats against Chelsea (2-1), Newcastle (3-1 in the Carabao Cup), and Nottingham Forest (2-0). However, they managed to halt their losing streak last Friday with a 0-0 draw against Brighton.
Arsenal, on the other hand, has been chasing the Premier League title for over 20 years, and only recently has the club been a serious contender for the crown again. While Mikel Arteta’s squad has fallen a bit behind Liverpool, who currently lead the standings by four points, they have still managed to stay competitive. The Gunners did drop points in draws with Fulham (1-1) and Everton (0-0), but they bounced back with a 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace before Christmas and a narrow 1-0 win against Ipswich Town last Friday. These results helped them reclaim second place from Chelsea.
Brentford faces several injury concerns heading into their match with Arsenal on Wednesday. The team will be without key midfielder Jensen, Dasilva, and defenders Hickey, Henry, and Nunes. Additionally, striker Thiago and several starting defenders, including Ajer, van den Berg, and Pinnock, are also sidelined. However, Brentford can count on their dynamic attacking duo, Wissa and Mbeumo, who have scored a combined total of 19 goals this season.
Arsenal will also be missing some important players for this match, including White, Zinchenko, and Tomiyasu. Key figures like Saka, with 5 goals and 10 assists this season, and Sterling will also be unavailable. However, the Gunners still have strength in attack, with Havertz, who scored against Ipswich, and Gabriel Jesus, who may start as the striker.
Prediction
Looking at past form, Arsenal has gone 29 matches in a row in the Premier League without a goalless draw away from home. Brentford, on the other hand, has seen just one of their last 17 home fixtures without a goal being scored, so it’s likely there will be goals in this match.
Prediction: Brentford 1 – 4 Arsenal
