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Brentford has been part of the Premier League for four years now but still lacks the stature of a top-tier club in England’s top flight. Currently ranked 11th, the Bees are focused on avoiding the relegation zone. After a standout 4-2 win over Newcastle on December 7, Brentford has struggled, with losses to Chelsea (2-1), Newcastle (3-1 in the Carabao Cup), and Nottingham Forest (2-0). However, they managed to end their losing streak last Friday, securing a 0-0 draw against Brighton.
Arsenal, on the other hand, has been vying for the Premier League title for over two decades and is once again a serious contender. Although Mikel Arteta’s side has fallen behind Liverpool, who lead by four points, they remain competitive. The Gunners dropped points in 1-1 draws with Fulham and 0-0 with Everton but bounced back with a dominant 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace and a narrow 1-0 win against Ipswich Town last Friday, reclaiming second place from Chelsea.
Heading into their match with Arsenal on Wednesday, Brentford faces multiple injury concerns. They will be without key midfielder Jensen, Dasilva, and defenders Hickey, Henry, and Nunes. Striker Thiago and several other starting defenders, including Ajer, van den Berg, and Pinnock, are also unavailable. However, the Bees can rely on their dynamic attacking duo, Wissa and Mbeumo, who have scored a combined total of 19 goals this season.
Arsenal will also be missing several key players, including White, Zinchenko, and Tomiyasu. Saka, with 5 goals and 10 assists this season, along with Sterling, will also be sidelined. Despite these absences, the Gunners still boast strength in attack, with Havertz, who scored against Ipswich, and Gabriel Jesus, who might start as the striker.
Prediction
Looking at past performances, Arsenal has not had a goalless draw in their last 29 away matches in the Premier League. Brentford, meanwhile, has had just one home game without a goal in their last 17 fixtures. Therefore, it’s expected that there will be goals in this match.
Prediction: Brentford 1 – 4 Arsenal.
