We don’t have to wait long for our first taste of Premier League action in 2025 as Arsenal travel to Brentford on New Year’s Day.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 games on Friday night by beating Ipswich Town 1-0 in north London. The Premier League title hopefuls are unlikely to dazzle while Bukayo Saka recovers from hamstring surgery, so efficiency will be the name of the game in their bid to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool.
The Reds extended their advantage over Arsenal at the summit to nine points with a 5-0 victory at West Ham on Sunday.
Liverpool’s brilliance means the Gunners’ margin for error is slim, and they’re travelling to one of the best-performing home sides in the division on Wednesday. Brentford, however, are currently decimated by injuries and are winless in four games.
The west Londoners were beaten at the Gtech for the first time this season on their previous home outing against Nottingham Forest before Christmas and currently lie 12th in the table.
Brentford’s injury woes are seemingly only getting worse. Crucially, Thomas Frank has Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa available on New Year’s Day, but the Bees are particularly hamstrung 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 Day bout. Mathias Jensen and Sepp van den Berg are the most likely to return from their respective knocks, but the pair may miss out again.
Ethan Pinnock could miss much of January with a hamstring injury, while Kristoffer Ajer, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago are also absent for the hosts.
There are no fresh concerns from Friday night’s triumph over Ipswich, but there may be a small reshuffle from Arteta.
Riccardo Calafiori was an unused substitute last time out having recently returned from a groin injury. He’ll surely feature at the Gtech, but Myles Lewis-Skelly’s form at left-back doesn’t warrant a dropping.
Mikel Merino could also come into the team with Kai Havertz starting up top. Arsenal are without star winger Saka and loanee Raheem Sterling due to respective hamstring and knee injuries, while full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out.
