The new year will begin with Premier League action as Brentford hosts an Arsenal side looking to switch attacks more quickly. The Gunners’ defense has been solid this season, but they have left much to be desired, with the team only scoring once against Ipswich Town and coming up short against Everton. Attacking grief increases over time. Bukayo Saka out after surgery. The addition of reinforcements is set to begin when the January transfer window opens, but it is unlikely that any of them will be able to lift them in time.
Here’s the storyline, how to watch the game, and more.
How to watch and odds
- date: Wednesday, January 1 | hour: 12:30 PM
- location: Gtech Community Stadium — Brentford, Middlesex
- TV: USA | Live Stream: Fubo TV (Try it for free)
- multiplication: Brentford +600; Draw +230. Arsenal -230
Storyline
Brentford: Despite Brentford’s strong attack, it has been difficult to achieve results recently. They are winless in their last four games after defeating Newcastle United at home. It won’t get any easier with Arsenal coming to town in a short week, but if they are to establish themselves as a true top-half side, Brentford will need to sort out their defense to win more games at home. Ethan Pinnock and Kristoffer Ajer are unable to return to help while Ben Mee is also injured. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken makes things more difficult for Thomas Frank with his game-time decisions.
Brentford predicted XI: Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson, Vitaly Janelt, Nathan Collins, Ji-Soo Kim, Kean Lewis-Potter, Yegor Yarmolyuk, Christian Norgaard, Mikkel Damsgaard, Mads Roerslev, Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo.
arsenal: Raheem Sterling remains sidelined for this game, but many of Arsenal’s injury problems are the same they have been dealing with so far. Ben White is still sidelined alongside Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu is also unavailable. Young Myles Lewis-Skelly could have stepped up during this period, but he will need experience to stand up to stronger opposition such as Brentford.
Arsenal predicted XI: David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurien Timber, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus.
prediction
Brentford were strong at home, but Arsenal are not a team anyone would want to face without their best defenders. Select: Brentford 1, Arsenal 3
