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 predicted 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.
Mikel Arteta’s side will look to jump 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 Vitality 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.
It is hoped that Flekken will be passed fit though Mee could be out for a number of weeks.
Sepp van den Berg and Mathias Jensen are set to return while Christian Norgaard has shaken off a knock and is also available.
Predicted Lineups
Brentford: Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
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
