By Euan Burns
Arsenal are keeping pace with their Premier League title rivals and will expect to take all three points when they face Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners have handed out some real beatings recently, with Sheffield United their latest victims to the tune of a 6-0 win, and have the chance to take advantage of Liverpool and Manchester City's meeting on Sunday by going top with a victory here.
Thomas Frank's visitors are in the midst of an injury crisis, with key defenders Ben Mee and Ethan Pinnock both sidelined, and have won just one of their last seven league games.
Here's 90min's preview of Arsenal vs Brentford.
What time does Arsenal vs Brentford kick-off?
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Emirates Stadium
- Date: Saturday 9 March
- Kick-off Time: 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT
- Referee: Rob Jones
- VAR: Paul Tierney
Arsenal vs Brentford H2H Record (Last Five Games)
- Arsenal: 4 wins
- Brentford: 0 wins
- Draws: 1
Current Form (all competitions)
How to watch Arsenal vs Brentford on TV and live stream
Arsenal team news
Both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were unable to play the full game against Sheff Utd thanks to injuries, but Saka is still expected to be fit enough to start against Brentford. Martinelli may be spared, though, as Arteta has to keep next week's return leg against Porto in the Champions League in mind.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are contenders to make returns from injury, but Jurrien Timber is still out.
David Raya is not allowed to play against his parent club before his loan from Brentford becomes permanent, so Aaron Ramsdale is set to start between the sticks.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brentford
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brentford (4-3-3):Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Brentford team news
Brentford's 2-2 draw against Chelsea didn't produce any fresh injuries for Thomas Frank's side, but he is also not expecting to have any of his existing absentees available on Saturday.
Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, Aaron Hickey, Ethan Pinnock, Rico Henry and Josh Dasilva are all still out injured, while Ben Mee is set to miss the rest of the season in a major blow for the Bees.
Frank also has to decide whether Yoane Wissa, who scored a brilliant overhead kick against Chelsea, will continue in attack alongside Ivan Toney or if Neal Maupay will come back in.
Brentford predicted lineup vs Arsenal
Brentford predicted lineup vs Arsenal (3-5-2):Flekken; Zanka, Collins, Ajer; Roerslev, Janelt, Jensen, Norgaard, Reguilon; Wissa, Toney.
Arsenal vs Brentford score prediction
Arsenal have been scoring goals with complete ease recently, having bagged 22 in their past five matches in all competitions. They are very impressive at home and, even with the match against Porto to think about, this should be a stroll for the Gunners.
Brentford are even weaker at the back without Mee, but their organisation should at least limit the scoring a bit more than teams like Sheff Utd and Burnley have managed in recent weeks.
Even so, don't expect the Bees to get anything from north London on Saturday evening.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Brentford
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Arsenal vs Brentford - Premier League: TV channel, team news, lineups and prediction.
