BRENTFORD and title challengers Arsenal take centre-stage in the Premier League’s only fixture on New Year’s Day.
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With Liverpool showing no signs of slowing down, the assignment remains the same for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side – win.
Every game is a must-win for the Gunners with Arne Slot’s league leaders now a whopping nine points clear at the top of the division after 18 matches.
Liverpool thrashed West Ham United 5-0 at the London Stadium and still have a game in hand after the postponement of the Merseyside derby.
It’s fair to say the title is now a two-horse race with Liverpool overwhelming favourites at 1/4 with Arsenal priced at 4/1 ahead of Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at 18/1.
So maximum points is essential on New Year’s Day, and the Gunners should feel quietly confident of securing a win following three successive wins in all competitions.
They beat Crystal Palace twice in the space of four days before clinching a 1-0 win over struggling Ipswich Town, who failed to register a single effort on target.
Arsenal also boast a decent record in this fixture.
Since winning 2-0 against Arsenal in their first ever Premier League game in August 2021, Brentford are winless in their last five against the Gunners (D1 L4). Arsenal have also won their last three away games against Brentford in all competitions without conceding a single goal.
Arsenal remained unbeaten in all 10 of their Premier League London derby matches in 2024, while having been unbeaten in 14 Premier League London derbies, Brentford have now won just one of their last 12 in the competition.
And they’ll need a dramatic change of fortunes to win this encounter having lost three of their last four and failed to win since beating Newcastle in early December.
They do, however, boast the best home form in the division alongside Liverpool and nobody can better their 26 league goals or 22 points taken at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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It seems inevitable that both teams will get on the scoresheet on New Year’s Day. Arsenal haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven Premier League away games.
Brentford, meanwhile, are one of two sides yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season, along with Ipswich. Their 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out was both their first loss and the first time they’ve failed to score at home this campaign.
Brentford vs Arsenal
If Brentford are to get on the scoresheet, as we predict, there’s a good chance it’ll be Bryan Mbeumo who gets it.
The attacker, 25, has scored ten goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season with 80% of those arriving at the Gtech Community Stadium. He’s also been involved in 14 goals in his last 15 Premier League London derby matches (12 goals, 2 assists).
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