It is a nervous Thursday for Arsenal supporters. Last night (Wednesday), Manchester City smashed Fulham 3-0 to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just three points. Now, the pressure is entirely on Mikel Arteta’s team to respond.
Tonight, Arsenal travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford. On paper, it looks like a game the Gunners should win, but a closer look at the mounting injury list and the history between these two shows why fans are worried.
Here is everything you need to know before kick-off.
Head-to-Head: A Tricky Place to Go
Brentford has emerged as a “surprise package” this season under Keith Andrews, and they have proven to be a difficult “bogey team” at home.
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Recent History: Arsenal has performed well in this fixture recently, winning seven of their last nine meetings in all competitions.
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Last Meeting: Earlier this season on December 3, Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory at the Emirates thanks to goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka.
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The Danger: Brentford is in sensational form, coming off a 3-2 win against Newcastle and a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. They currently sit 7th on the log and are chasing their first-ever European spot. The Gunners will need to be particularly wary of Igor Thiago, who is the second-highest scorer in the league with 17 goals this season.
Injury Crisis? Arteta Forced Into Changes
The biggest headache for Mikel Arteta is a sudden spike in injuries. Just as the title race reaches a critical point, Arsenal’s squad is looking remarkably thin.
Who is out or doubtful?
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Kai Havertz (OUT): A massive blow for the Gunners. Havertz has picked up a muscular injury and is expected to miss about a month of action, including the upcoming North London Derby.
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Mikel Merino (OUT): The Spanish midfielder is out for the remainder of the season following surgery on a foot fracture.
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Bukayo Saka (DOUBT): The star winger is struggling with a hip issue sustained during the warm-up against Leeds and remains a major doubt for tonight.
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Martin Ødegaard (DOUBT): The captain is carrying a minor muscle injury and will face a late fitness test before kick-off.
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Leandro Trossard (DOUBT): Added to the list this morning, Trossard is being monitored for a calf issue sustained last weekend.
With the attack depleted, Arsenal will rely heavily on Viktor Gyökeres. The striker is in excellent form, having scored a brace in the 3-0 win over Sunderland last Saturday to take his league tally to eight for the season.
Match Predictions
Experts are predicting a tight encounter. While Arsenal’s defense has been rock solid with three consecutive Premier League clean sheets, the Bees’ clinical counter-attack could test their resolve. Furthermore, Arsenal has a peculiar “Thursday curse,” having failed to score in any of their last three league games played on this specific weekday.
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Prediction: A 1-1 Draw or a narrow 2-1 win for Arsenal.
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Key Battle: Can Arsenal’s improvised midfield stop Igor Thiago and Dango Ouattara in transition?
Fan Poll: Will Arsenal Choke? With Man City breathing down their necks, can this depleted Arsenal team get the job done tonight? Vote below!