Key events
Brentford boss Keith Andrews, exuding supercool, speaks to TNT Sports. “[We will] approach the game in a very confident but humble way … we’re very aware of what will be thrown at us tonight … [Arsenal] are a phenomenal team with phenomenal individuals … well-coached in every aspect of the game … we’ll have to match that and perform very, very well … but equally we’re a pretty good team ourselves … I hope [this game] is chaos … I like creating chaos … you want to feel like you’re in control [so] if you can alter that plan in any way, and you can remain calm amongst it, then that puts you in a good place … we’ll try to make it uncomfortable for them … we’ll have to raise our levels, and our levels are pretty good! … we’re a humble, hungry group … hopefully we can achieve something special.”
Brentford make one change to their starting line-up following the 3-2 win at Newcastle United on Saturday. Yehor Yarmolyuk replaced Jordan Henderson during the second half of that match; he does the same thing from the start tonight. Henderson is on the bench.
Arsenal make four changes to their starting XI from the one named for the 3-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend. Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera step up; Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori drop to the bench, while William Saliba (ill) and Kai Havertz (injured) miss out altogether. Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard both begin their journey back from injury on the bench.
The teams
Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry, Yarmolyuk, Janelt, Ouattara, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Thiago.
Subs: Bentt, Furo, Donovan, Damsgaard, Collins, Henderson, Pinnock, Hickey, Valdimarsson.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori, Norgaard, Martinelli, Jesus, Odegaard, Saka, White.
Referee: John Brooks
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Preamble
Arsenal were nine points clear of Manchester City five days ago. Given they haven’t played since their 3-0 win over Sunderland established that advantage, it’s a bit rum to point the finger now that gap is only three, City having since won sensationally at Liverpool on Sunday and in a more conventional manner against Fulham last night. But scoreboard pressure is scoreboard pressure, and suddenly the visit to Brentford looks a little more difficult than it would have done on Saturday evening.
To be fair to Mikel Arteta and his men, they’d have considered this match a tricky assignment when nine ahead anyway. Brentford are in fine fettle right now, coming off the back of wins at Aston Villa and Newcastle, and they’re one of the stories of the season. However, Arsenal have responded well to a triple-bump in the road – those goalless draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, followed by dramatic defeat against Manchester United – by recording four wins on the bounce in all comps. So this is all set up for some piping-hot west-versus-north cross-capital action! Should be fun, not least because it means so much in terms of the title. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
