Premier League: Can Arsenal find Honey in the Bees’ Hive?

Brentford vs Arsenal

Premier League title chasers Arsenal head to West London on Wednesday to take on Brentford in the first top flight clash of 2025.

There will be brief New Year greetings between Bees manager Thomas Frank and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta before the hostilities begin and then the second placed Gunners will go for their hosts. Brentford, currently 11^th in the table have a curious record this season with seven wins at home and only two points to show for nine matches on the road.

But they lost their last game on home soil and Brentford come into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw away to Brighton and Hove Albion, while the Gunners picked up three vital points thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over strugglers Ipswich Town, a victory which took them to within six points of leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal are at 1.41 to win this match and the latest Premier League 2024 betting odds have reinstalled Arteta’s team as second favourites but, to justify that position, the Gunners must win games like these.

 

Talking Points

Bees sweating on stopper Flekken

Brentford picked up an impressive point away to Brighton on Friday as the Seagulls rained 24 shots down on the Bees’ goal, but the draw came at a cost as keeper Mark Flekken was substituted late in the first half after he had made a string of crucial saves. He was suffering from a groin problem and Frank said, after the game, that he was unsure how serious his keeper’s injury is. The 31 year old Netherlands international has been a mainstay in the Brentford first 11 since his arrival in 2023 but, if he doesn’t make it, then Icelandic keeper Hakon Valdimarsson is likely to step in. The Number One is being assessed over the weekend and Frank will make a late call on his last line of defence.

At the opposite end of the pitch the manager has two players he can rely on to stretch the Arsenal defence in striker Bryan Mbeumo who has ten goals and winger Yoanne Wissa with nine. Congo star Wissa thought he’d nicked a winner against the Seagulls with a shot he rifled into the top corner, but he was adjudged to be marginally offside. The Bees have not struggled for attacking potency since the departure of Ivan Toney to the Saudi Pro League and Arsenal will need to keep a close eye on Danish midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard who, with four assists, will provide a ready supply to his strikers if he is allowed any space.   

 

Saka injury is a blow to Arsenal

It’s a good time to be an Arsenal fan with a team challenging for league honours again while North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur toil in 12^th place and on a run of four defeats in five league games. But laughing at their neighbours won’t bring the Gunners’ trophies and supporters have become a little edgy recently following the injury to Bukayo Saka during Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on 21^st December. The England star has scored five goals and made ten assists this season and he’ll be out for up to two months after tearing a hamstring which has required surgery.

The Gunners weren’t at their best at home to Ipswich on Friday and, while 13 shots on goal is by no means a drought it is lower than the hosts would have expected against a bottom three side. With the creative talent of skipper Martin Odegaard and the likes of winger Gabriel Martinelli, Arteta’s team should be able to open up most defences but, if they struggle against the Bees then Saka’s absence could quickly become a real worry.

 

History

The Bees have only won this encounter once in eight attempts and that was their very first Premier League appearance back in 2021, and the Gunners have won the last three meetings, doing the double last season with a 2-1 win at the Emirates and 1-0 victory in Brentford.  

With four wins and two draws the Gunners’ recent form is as strong as ever while Brentford have struggled a little recently, with just one win, one draw and four defeats in their last six games. But the Bees have been superb at home, with seven wins, one draw and one defeat at the Brentford Community Stadium.

 

Betting Tip

Chelsea’s loss to Fulham on Boxing Day and Arsenal’s win over Ipswich gave Arteta’s team second place and they will be desperate to keep hold of that position, to avoid any distractions in their pursuit of Liverpool. 

The Bees’ Premier League 2024 results have certainly been skewed heavily by their superb home form, but they are at SBOTOP odds of 5.64 to win this match while a draw is at 4.21. It’s a tricky one to call, particularly after Arsenal were unimpressive last time out; but the visitors should edge it, and the most likely result is a 2-1 win to the Gunners at odds of 7.14.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.