Brentford vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

Finally, after what has seemed like an eternity, Premier League football is back as Arsenal travel to Brentford Community Stadium to face the newly-promoted Bees on Friday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side has struggled to get going during the pre-season with wins against Watford and Millwall the only positive results for the Gunners.

Friday night’s clash will be Brentford’s first-ever Premier League match and with a sold-out (as much as it can be) stadium, Thomas Frank’s men will be right up for the fight. With Ivan Toney in attack, Brentford has more than enough to trouble Arsenal as the striker netted 31 times in the Championship last season.

Fresh off a 2-1 win over Spanish side Valencia in their final pre-season fixture, the west London meeting will be the host’s first top-flight clash since 1947 when, of course, they faced Arsenal. Oh, and did anyone mention that it’s Friday the 13th?

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Brentford vs Arsenal Premier League match preview for first round of 2021/22 fixtures at Brentford Community Stadium on Friday

For Arsenal, this presents a tough start to its league campaign. A win is a must as the Gunners will then face Chelsea and Manchester City in one of the least appealing openings of a new campaign imaginable.

Finishing eighth last season and with no European football this term, Arsenal needs to get it right with absolutely no excuses available to Arteta.

Having relied heavily on Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka to drive them forward, much of the same will be needed on Friday night.

A summer of discontent for Arsenal fans that has seen minimal arrivals and poor results, getting off on the front foot is paramount for the club.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will need to find his shooting boots having not netted at all during pre-season and with Brentford’s swash-buckling style, chances could come his way on Friday night.

Arteta essentially picked his best team in the recent defeat with Spurs and many would expect the same side to start against Brentford.

The back four is fairly set with Gabriel out injured, and in midfield there could be a Premier League debut for Albert Sambi Lokonga alongside Granit Xhaka. Emile Smith Rowe, inheriting the No.10 shirt, will get his first taste of the season donning the legendary number.

In attack, although it might be too much to ask, Bukayo Saka could be handed a start to give Arsenal an attacking edge while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to lead the line. In truth, who gives a d*mn who plays so long as we win, right?

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Friday 13 August
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Brentford Community Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Michael Oliver

Continued…

Arsenal Team News v Brighton

The Gunners have some injury concerns heading into the opening match of the league campaign.

Both Thomas Partey and Gabriel Magalhaes will not feature with the former injuring his ankle during his side’s loss to Chelsea while Gabriel still has a knee complaint that stopped him from competing at the Olympics with Brazil.

Fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli is unlikely to feature from the off after his efforts with the Olympic tea, while Eddie Nketiah is out after injuring his ankle. Joe Willock is not likely to be included in the matchday squad as his Newcastle move draws near.

Ben White is likely to get his first competitive start for the Gunners after his £50m move from Brighton while another summer signing in Albert Lokonga may start in place of Partey. Expect Bukayo Saka to feature at some point after coming on as a late substitute against Tottenham on Sunday.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney did have questions raised of his fitness after missing the 2-1 win over Valencia, however, Bees boss Thomas Frank said post-match that his striker will be ready.

"“Yeah, I’m expecting him soon, I don’t think, almost anything can stop him from playing on Friday night. “I’m sure he will be available and ready to play.”"

There could be competitive debuts for summer signing Kristoffer Ajer, while Ethan Pinnock and Pontus Jansson both fit. Frank Onyeka who netted the winner against Valencia as a substitute in the second half, may also get the nod.

Continued…

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Brentford

Arsenal: Leno; Chambers, White, Mari, Tierney; Lokonga, Xhaka; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang

Brentford: Raya; Pinnock, Jansson, Ajer, Henry; Frank Onyeka, Christian Nørgaard, Vitaly Janelt; Sergi Canos, Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney

Brentford v Arsenal Score Prediction

It is a sure banana skin for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. After an underwhelming pre-season, the Gunners will be looking to start the season on the front foot with a vital three points.

However, that is easier said than done against a Brentford side who loves to play attacking football. Given it is the side’s maiden Premier League outing and in front of a capacity crowd, Arsenal will have its work cut out on Friday night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will need to find his shooting boots rather quickly and the midfield duo of Xhaka and Lokonga will have to hit the ground running.

With Frank’s love for three at the back, Arsenal could expose them with pace out wide with Saka, Pepe and Aubameyang through the middle. If he opts for that, of course, as he does change system.

It presents a tough ask for Arsenal to grab three points having trudged their way through pre-season uninspiringly. However, given it is the start of the league campaign, we need to have faith and confidence going into the opening match, don’t we?

Brentford will come out with nothing to lose on and will be going full throttle to start its first-ever Premier League campaign with a win. There will be no sitting back and letting Arsenal have the ball, Brentford will be going for the win you can be assured of that.

At the end of the day, Arsenal should have too much quality in the final third, and should chances come their way, they must be taken.

Score Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Arsenal