As the New Year kicks off, football fans are in for an exciting London derby as Brentford host Arsenal at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday.
Both sides come into the match with plenty to play for, with the Bees looking to build on their solid home form and challenge for a top-half finish, while the Gunners aim to maintain their push for the Premier League title. As always, we’ll analyse current form and explore key betting angles to consider ahead of the match.
Before doing so, let’s take a moment to assess the current odds in the Premier League title race. Liverpool remain the bookmakers’ favourites to lift the title at 2/9, with Arsenal steadily remaining next best at 5/1. Chelsea have slipped to third favourites at 33/1, while Manchester City’s odds have extended to 40/1. The remaining teams are priced at 80/1 or higher.
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BRENTFORD v ARSENAL – Click here to bet
Brentford will be eager to bounce back from their surprising 0-0 stalemate with Brighton on Friday night when they welcome Arsenal to the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day. Currently sitting 12th in the standings with 24 points from 18 matches (W7, D3, L8), the Bees have struggled on the road this season (D2, L7), which has contributed to their mid-table position. However, with the second-best home record in the league, manager Thomas Frank will look to leverage his side’s strong performances in West London as they take on the title-chasing Gunners.
EPL Home Form: W7 D1 L1
Brentford’s home form has been exceptional overall, but their recent 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest marked their first home league loss of the season and the first time in 11 competitive home matches this term where they failed to score. The Bees will need to rediscover their attacking edge when taking on the Gunners this week, knowing just how dangerous Arsenal can be. With Brentford registering their first home league defeat of the season, they will be desperate to reverse this trend in order to stay in contention for a top-half finish in this campaign.
At home, Brentford have scored 26 goals in the league, averaging 2.89 goals per match, while conceding 16 goals, averaging 1.78 per game. Over 2.5 goals have featured in 78% of those matches (7 out of 9).
Arsenal, meanwhile, head into Wednesday’s clash against Brentford in London on an impressive 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions (W8, D3). Currently sitting 3rd in the standings with 36 points from 18 matches (W10, D6, L2), the Gunners remain firmly in the title race. Their most recent outing, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ipswich, showcased their resilience and ability to grind out results as they strive to close the 9-point gap on league leaders Liverpool.
EPL Away Form: W4 D3 L2
Mikel Arteta’s side will need to sharpen their away form if they are to realistically maintain their title push, as all of their defeats this season have come on the road. That said, the Gunners have been dominant in London derbies, remaining unbeaten in ten such matches in 2024 (W8, D2). Arsenal’s defensive resilience and ability to perform in high-pressure games make them worthy favourites, despite Brentford’s impressive home record this season.
Away from home, Arsenal have scored 17 goals in the league, averaging 1.89 goals per match, while conceding 10 goals at an average of 1.11 per game. Under 2.5 goals have featured in 67% of those matches (6 out of 9).
Head-to-Head
Arsenal’s recent record against Brentford is impeccable, with the Gunners winning the last three encounters at the Gtech Community Stadium without conceding a goal. Last season, Arsenal completed a league double over Brentford, securing a 1-0 victory in this fixture, followed by a 2-1 win in the reverse encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Betting
Brentford 6/1
Draw 4/1
Arsenal 4/9
Verdict
Brentford’s formidable home form presents a stern challenge for Arsenal, but the Gunners’ remarkable unbeaten streak and dominance in London derbies make them the likely winners here. While Arsenal’s defensive discipline has been impressive, the Bees have the firepower to find the net, setting the stage for an exciting encounter on New Year’s Day.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Both Teams to Score, Draw/Arsenal and Yes at 1/1
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
