We don’t have to wait long for our first taste of Premier League action in 2025 as Arsenal travel to Brentford in the New Year.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 games on Friday night beat Ipswich 1-0 in north London. The Premier League title contenders are unlikely to dazzle while Bucayo Saka recovers from hamstring surgery, so efficiency will be the name of the game as they try to keep pace with leaders Liverpool.
The Reds extended their lead over Arsenal at the summit to nine points with a 5-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.
Liverpool’s brilliance means the Gunners have little room for error and they travel to one of the best-performing home teams in the division on Wednesday. Brentford, however, are currently decimated by injuries and are without a win in four games.
The west Londoners were beaten at Gtech for the first time this season in their previous home outing against Nottingham Forest before Christmas and currently sit 12th in the table.
Here it is 90 minutes guide for Bradford vs Arsenal on New Year’s Day.
Brentford – Arsenal H2H Results (Last Five Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Bradford |
Arsenal |
|---|---|
|
Brighton 0-0 Brentford – 27/12/24 |
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich – 27/12/24 |
|
Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest – 21/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal – 21/12/24 |
|
Newcastle 3-1 Brentford – 18/12/24 |
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace – 18/12/24 |
|
Chelsea 2-1 Brentford – 15/12/24 |
Arsenal 0-0 Everton – 14/12/24 |
|
Brentford 4-2 Newcastle – 24/12/07 |
Arsenal 3-0 Monaco – 12/11/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports Ultimate, TNT Sports 1, Discovery+, Discovery+ app |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Brentford’s injury woes are seemingly only getting worse. Crucially, Thomas Frank has Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa available in the New Year, but the Bees are particularly tough in defence.
They lost Mark Flekken and Ben Mee to injuries at Brighton on Friday night, with both players doubtful for this New Year’s game. Mathias Jensen and Sepp van den Berg are the most likely to return from their respective knocks, but the pair could miss out again.
Ethan Pinnock could miss much of January with a hamstring injury, while the home side are also without Christopher Ajer, Josh DaSilva, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago.
Brentford predicted line-up against Arsenal (4-3-3): Valdimarsson? Roerslev, Collins, Kim, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade.
There are no fresh concerns from Friday night’s triumph over Ipswich, but there could be a slight reshuffle from Arteta.
Riccardo Calafiori was an unused substitute last time out having recently returned from a groin injury. He will certainly feature at Gtech, but Myles Lewis-Skelly’s form at left-back does not warrant a drop.
Mikel Merino could also come into the squad with Kai Havertz starting up top. Arsenal without star winger Saka and loanee Raheem Sterling with respective hamstring and knee injuries, while full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out.
Arsenal predicted line-up against Brentford (4-3-3): Raya? Timbers, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus.
The decimated hosts have often blown teams away this season but have their work cut out for them here, having been beaten by transition heavyweights Forest before Christmas.
Arsenal will dominate possession in west London and will aim to stifle the Bees through an aggressive defensive line and fierce counter-pressing. Brentford’s effectiveness once they regain possession will be crucial in determining their success against a strong Gunners side that lacks a ruthless edge.
Given the absence of Saka in attack, Arsenal are even more prone to long outings similar to the draws at Fulham and Everton in December.
This could be one of those days for Arteta’s men against a depleted Brentford outfit.
