Brentford vs Arsenal Preview, Prediction, Team News and Confirmed Lineups

Arsenal travel to Brentford for the first Premier League game of 2025 on New Year’s Day and you can find our preview, prediction, team news and confirmed line-ups below.

Brentford vs Arsenal Preview

Arsenal go into 2025 hoping this will be the year that their over two-decade wait to lift the Premier League trophy comes to an end.

Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing of West Ham at the London Stadium saw them open up a nine-point gap on the Gunners.

Nottingham Forest into second with a victory. They go into their first game of 2025 unbeaten in their last eight league games (five wins and three draws).

They struggled in front of goal last time out, when a solitary Kai Havertz strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Ipswich.

Arsenal took six points off Brentford last season. Though on both occasions it was Havertz who again came to the rescue netting late winners at both the Emirates and the Gtech Stadium.

Brentford go into the game looking for their first win in four games, a run that has seen them slip to 12th in the standings.

However, 22 out of their 24 points this season have come at home. In fact, only Liverpool (also 22) have taken as many points at home this season than the Bees.

Thomas Frank’s side will use this as motivation in their bid to put another dent in Arsenal’s title hopes.

Brentford Vs Arsenal Team News

Of course the big injury for Arsenal is that of Bukayo Saka who will be out for a while after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Raheem Sterling’s injury is not serious as first feared but it’s likely that this game will come too soon for him.

Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain out of action with knee injuries.

Brentford were forced to replace goalkeeper Mark Flekken and defender Ben Mee during their goalless draw with Brighton.

Flekken has been ed fit whilst Mee will be out for a number of weeks.

Sepp van den Berg also starts and Mathias Jensen is on the bench. Christian Norgaard has shaken off a knock and is also named in the starting XI.

Confirmed Lineups

Brentford: Flekken; Roerslev, Van den Berg, Collins, Janelt; Norgaard, Yamoliuk, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa, Lewis-Potter

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli

Prediction

Arsenal are the form side out of the two but Brentford’s record at home this season is very impressive. They are also strong favourites when it comes to the best football betting sites in the UK.

We expect the Gunners will get an important victory to go six points behind Liverpool. However, the Bees will make life tough for the Gunners on New Year’s Day in a closely fought contest.

Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Arsenal