Arsenal, currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League table despite defensive injury concerns, will look to extend their unbeaten run against a Brentford side that has lost five of their six Premier League away games.
Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top of the table as they host Brentford, but manager Mikel Arteta faces defensive concerns ahead of the London derby, according to a report from FotMob.
The Gunners’ advantage at the summit was trimmed to five points after their recent 1-1 draw against Chelsea, a game where they “struggled to garner any momentum” despite a red card for the opposition.
The defensive issues are mounting, with Gabriel and Kai Havertz remaining “weeks” away from their respective comebacks.
Furthermore, Arteta described the injury sustained by William Saliba as “bizarre” after he missed the draw with a knock, though the manager hinted he “could be back in action” this week.
In better news for the Gunners, captain Martin Ødegaard and striker Viktor Gyökeres are pushing for starts after returning from injury off the bench at the weekend.
Brentford, meanwhile, sits 10th in the table after a 3-1 win over Burnley on Saturday, where they showcased their resilience by scoring three times in the final 11 minutes.
Despite their strong overall form, the visitors have struggled on the road, losing five of their six Premier League away games.
Their main threat is striker Igor Thiago, who is the league’s second leading scorer and now sits just three goals behind Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.
Brentford will be without on-loan Arsenal player Reiss Nelson (ineligible) and long-term absentees Fábio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo, and Josh Dasilva (all out until 2026 with knee injuries).
FotMob’s analysis suggests Arsenal will “impose themselves from the outset” and ultimately cruise to victory.