Arsenal vs Brentford Preview: Gunners Aim to Stay in the Champions League Chase.
Matchday: Premier League – Week 32
Kick-off: Saturday, 5:30 PM (UK time)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal return to Premier League duty this Saturday as they host London rivals Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in a pivotal clash that could shape their top-four ambitions.
Mikel Arteta’s men are riding high after a stunning 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid—an emphatic result that showcased their attacking flair and tactical maturity. But with the Premier League title looking increasingly out of reach, maintaining pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool is now more about securing a strong finish and booking a Champions League return next season.
Injury Concerns and Rotation
Tuesday night’s statement win over Madrid came at a price, as both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were withdrawn late on due to minor knocks. While initial reports suggest there’s no serious concern, Arteta is expected to exercise caution with two of his most important players, especially with the return leg in Madrid just days away.
Ethan Nwaneri, who impressed in his Champions League debut, could retain his place in the lineup, while Jorginho is also likely to feature in midfield. Raheem Sterling—suspended for the midweek clash—returns to contention and is expected to start, alongside Leandro Trossard and Kieran Tierney, who could be recalled to offer fresh legs.
However, Arsenal’s injury list remains a worry. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes are still nursing hamstring issues, while Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Jesus are all sidelined with knee injuries.
Brentford’s Situation
For Brentford, Thomas Frank’s side put in a resilient display against Chelsea last time out, holding the Blues to a 2-2 draw. Rico Henry’s return from a long-term hamstring layoff was a welcome boost, and although the Bees remain hampered by several absentees, their injury crisis is beginning to ease.
Fabio Carvalho (shoulder), Igor Thiago (knee), and Josh Dasilva (knee) remain unavailable. However, Aaron Hickey and Gustavo Nunes are both back in full training and pushing for selection. Vitaly Janelt is expected to come in for Yehor Yarmoliuk in midfield as Frank looks to reinforce his defensive structure.
Arsenal vs Brentford: Tactical Overview
This will be Arsenal’s third meeting with Brentford this season, having already beaten them twice—1-0 in the reverse league fixture and another narrow win in the EFL Cup. Arteta’s side have won their last five league matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding just one in that span, including a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United and a 4-1 win over Newcastle.
Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season with just 24 goals conceded in 31 matches, while their attack is now firing on all cylinders with 70 league goals—only Manchester City (74) and Liverpool (71) have more.
Brentford, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency and sit 15th in the table. They’ve collected just two wins in their last 11 matches and are averaging only 1.1 goals per game this season. The Bees have also lost six of their last eight away fixtures.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3):
Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Odegaard, Jorginho, Merino; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
Unavailable: Havertz, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jesus, Tomiyasu
Doubtful: Rice, Saka
Brentford (4-2-3-1):
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Unavailable: Dasilva, Carvalho, Thiago
Doubtful: Hickey, Nunes
Key Stats
- Arsenal have won 7 of their last 8 Premier League matches.
- Brentford have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 away games.
- Leandro Trossard has scored 4 goals in his last 6 league appearances.
- Arsenal are unbeaten at the Emirates in 2025 across all competitions.
- Brentford have scored in just one of their last four visits to the Emirates.
What’s at Stake
For Arsenal, anything less than three points would be a setback in the race for a top-four finish. With Liverpool and Manchester City in a neck-and-neck title battle, the Gunners must keep up the momentum to avoid being dragged into a scrap with Tottenham and Aston Villa for Champions League qualification.
Brentford, meanwhile, will view this as a free hit—but points are becoming essential as they hover above the relegation scrap. A surprise result at the Emirates could be the spark needed to steer them safely into mid-table.
