Premier League: Brentford vs Arsenal – Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Friday morning New Zealand time sees a high stakes Premier League clash take place at Gtech Community Stadium as Arsenal look to strengthen their position at the top of the table while Brentford hunt a top-four spot of their own.

Can Arsenal maintain their ruthless form on the road, or will Brentford’s brilliant season continue to reach new heights? I dig into all the nitty gritty in this Brentford vs Arsenal preview. From the scoring form of Igor Thiago to the Gunners’ rock-solid backline, all the essentials are covered, including a $3.50 bet on one of the best betting sites in NZ this weekend.

Brentford

Keith Andrews has done a brilliant job with the Bees this season, even if they’ve hit a bit of a dry patch lately. They’re sitting seventh right now but are just five points off the top four - something they’ll be eager to crack for sure.

Brentford have found plenty of success relying on their rock-solid organisation to frustrate flashier teams. I like how they don’t care about having the ball; they just wait for you to mess up, then Thiago punishes you. He’s already got 16 goals this season and is a total handful in the air.

If they can weather the early Arsenal storm, they’re a chance here. The home crowd should help them too. They’ve already got it done against some big clubs this year, so they won’t be scared of the league leaders here.

Team News: Kristoffer Ajer and Rico Henry are fit to start, but Mathias Jensen remains a doubt after a knock in training.

Predicted Lineup: Kelleher; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Henry; Janelt, Yarmolyuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago, Wissa.

Arsenal

Arsenal are a bit of a juggernaut right now. They’re playing some of the most balanced football in the world. Case in point: Arsenal have only conceded 14 goals all season, which is almost unheard of. 

I watched them dismantle Leeds 5-0 not long ago, and they barely let them have a touch.

Mikel Arteta has got them humming, especially with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line. He’s the perfect foil for Saka and Odegaard. Even on the road, they play with so much composure. If you’re looking for football betting tips this week, backing an away win is the logical starting point.

Team News: William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are back to full fitness. Riccardo Calafiori is still out.

Predicted Lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze.

• Arsenal have won four of their last five away league games.
• Thiago has 16 goals and is currently second in the Golden Boot race.
• Brentford have kept only one clean sheet in their last six home matches.
• Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding only 0.63 goals per game.
• Both teams have scored in 60% of Brentford’s matches this season.

I’m struggling to see past an Arsenal win here. That said, I’d be surprised if Brentford roll over. The home side are so well-drilled under Andrews and they’ll sit deep to try and catch Arsenal on the break. Thiago against Gabriel will be a brilliant fight.

The tactical battle in the wide areas is where this one will be won or lost. Brentford’s wing-backs need to be perfect to stop Saka and Eze from cutting inside. If Arsenal can isolate the full-backs one-on-one, it’s game over. I reckon the Gunners’ set-piece threat will be the difference, as Gabriel is a monster in the air and Brentford have looked shaky defending corners lately.

However, Arsenal’s quality in the middle of the park with Rice and Zubimendi should eventually wear Brentford down. Expect them to dominate the ball and eventually find a way through the Bees’ low block. I’m predicting a 2-1 win for the visitors. If you’ve got betting bonuses to burn, a narrow Arsenal win is the way to go.

Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.50

I reckon there’s great value in this play. While Arsenal are the better side, they often switch off for a few minutes on the road, and Brentford are clinical when they get half a chance. Thiago is too good to keep quiet for 90 minutes. I can see Arsenal going 2-0 up and then conceding a late one to make the finish a bit nervy. Getting $3.50 for an Arsenal win and BTTS at Bet and Play is a good price in my eyes.