Odegaard and Jesus available, White we will see – Arteta
Arsenal travel to Brentford for a tricky outing as the Premier League resumes following the international break. Mikel Arteta’s men started the day one point off the lead but behind Manchester City and Liverpool in the table and will keep the pressure on the champions with a victory this evening.
Brentford, having another stellar season, have already been successful against some of the top sides this year by drawing against Tottenham and beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Thomas Frank will be targeting a spot in the top 10 and potentially a place in Europe following the Bees’ great start and to achieve that they’ll need to continue taking points away from the bigger clubs.
Aaron Ramsdale has another chance to impress his manager as he is confirmed to be starting in goal. David Raya, Arteta’s seeming first choice keeper, is unable to play against his parent club and a strong performance from Ramsdale will keep him in the thoughts of the Spaniard. The match is also Arteta’s 200th in charge in all competitions, and he has the most wins compared to all previous Arsenal managers to reach that milestone.
Follow all the action below plus get the latest odds and tips for the match right here:
Brentford vs Arsenal live
- Brentford host Arsenal in the Premier League
- The Gunners trail Liverpool and Man City in the league table
- Aaron Ramsdale starts in goal for Arsenal as Martin Odegaard returns
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Trossard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
- Brentford XI: Flekken; Ajer, Mee, Pinnock, Janelt; Norgaard, Onyeka, Yarmoliuk; Mbeumo, Ghoddos, Wissa
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Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 2 minutes
Sonia Twigg is our reporter at the ground this evening and can hear some early taunts from home fans towards Aaron Ramsdale, the stand-in stopped being unfavourably compared with David Raya.
An early free kick for Arsenal upfield, though, and William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes lumber forward to lend their height.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:34
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 1 minute
Brentford set up in their back five, with Saman Ghoddos on the right of it – a new role for the Iranian with Thomas Frank forced to find unconventional solutions to his injury crisis.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:32
KICK OFF!
Arsenal get things underway at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:30
Brentford vs Arsenal
The two sets of players shake hands with one another, and the officials, led tonight by Tim Robinson. Michael Salisbury is required in front of the screens if required.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:28
Brentford vs Arsenal
The players are gathered in the tunnel, Arsenal with their eyes on a win that would take them into top spot.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:26
Brentford vs Arsenal
A clear, if rather cold, evening in London, with temperatures dropping towards freezing with the sun long since set. The thick beanie hats are on in the stands and there’s every chance of a fixture to warm the cockles with two attacking line-ups.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:21
Brentford vs Arsenal
David Raya is currently sat in the Brentford dugout catching up with Ben Ryan, the Olympic gold medal winning rugby sevens coach who is now Director of Elite Performance at the London club. It must be an odd evening for the Spanish stopper with a foot in both camps and plenty of eyes on how his stand-in goes. Can Aaron Ramsdale force Mikel Arteta’s hand with a strong performance this evening?
(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:13
Premier League results
The 3pm kick-offs are all wrapped up – a big win for Newcastle over Chelsea, and a significant result for Luton as they move four points clear of Sheffield United:
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Brighton
Sheffield United 1-3 Bournemouth
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:06
Mikel Arteta is next in front of the TNT Sports microphone
“I’m very proud, it is a big number and a big club,” Arteta says as he prepares to oversee a 200th Arsenal game. “It is a big privilege.
“We are really going to have to earn it because it is a tough place to come. Brentford are able to take the game where they want to, and they have real threat.
[On Aaron Ramsdale]: “I have got top players and I love all of them, and I try to give them all opportunities. A few get a big one today. We have quite a few injuries in central areas so we had to try something different today. Leandro Trossard has been exceptional, he’s a big creator around the box and he works hard.”
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 17:05
And Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been grabbed by TNT Sports for a pre-match chat
“Everything is done and dusted – the final message to the players is routine,” Frank explains from his office at the Brentford Community Stadium. “Just a few bits on the line-up from Arsenal, besides that, I just try to kill time. I’m watching a bit of Luton because we play them next Saturday.
“I invite managers in after the game. Some you have a closer relationship with, some not. But I always invite them in, and some come. There’s a wine fridge there, and a few beers there.
“There eare a lot of teams that have injury issues, but we’ve got a thin squad, so it’s a challenge we need to solve. I’m a big believer that the team we’ve put out there will do the job. Mattias Jensen picked up a minor adductor strain but we’re hoping we’ll be ready for Luton.”
Frank also confirms that Saman Ghoddos will be deployed as a wing-back, with Brentford sticking with a three centre-back system.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 November 2023 16:58