Premier League title-chasing Arsenal meet relegation-battling Brentford at Emirates Stadium.
Victory will send Arsenal top until Sunday afternoon at minimum, whilst Brentford can go 14th if Crystal Palace lose to Luton in a mid-afternoon kick-off.
Team News
David Raya is ineligible for Arsenal in this fixture due to having joined the Gunners from Brentford on a season-long loan last summer.
Bukayo Saka (illness) and Gabriel Martinelli (foot) are set to be available despite being substituted in the Gunners’ victory at Sheffield United.
Takehiro Tomisyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko (both calf) could return but Jurrien Timbers (knee) remains absent.
Brentford will have striker, Ivan Toney available despite the England international having suffered a knock in their 2-2 draw against Chelsea last weekend.
Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry (both knee), Kevin Schade (adductor), Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo (all ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Brentford at Emirates Stadium in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off on Saturday 9 March at 5:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in four of their last five league meetings against Brentford (W3, D1, L1).
- Brentford are winless away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League (D1, L1).
- Both teams have scored in each of their two previous Premier League encounters in North London.
- Kai Havertz has scored in each of Arsenal’s last three league matches (W3).
- No Brentford player has hit the woodwork on more occasions than Keane Lewis-Potter this season, with the forward having hit the woodwork twice in 20 appearances.
Prediction
Following their ruthless first-half demolition of Sheffield Utd and excellent game management, Arsenal have little to fear coming into this game where they really have a huge opportunity to put the pressure on their title rivals who meet on Sunday.
Brentford meanwhile weathered Chelsea’s first-half storm to stage a spirited fight-back and really should of taken a vital win if not for a late equaliser from a sloppy moment of goalkeeping to concede a corner, yet they have to be absolutely at their best here if want any sort of result.
I however do expect Arsenal to have too much for these defensively injury-hit Bees but Thomas Frank’s side should be difficult to break down if play like they did last weekend, otherwise this will be an one-sided contest.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Brentford
Result: Arsenal 2-1 Brentford
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