Game Week 13 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Brentford

Arsenal vs Brentford: Premier League Match Preview and Predictions.

Brentford will hope to avoid last season's result at the G-Tech Community Stadium when the Gunners visit on Saturday. (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Brentford vs. Arsenal

G-Tech Community Stadium

6:30pm

Arsenal can profit from whatever happens at the Etihad between Manchester United and Liverpool earlier in the day on Saturday with a win over Brentford.

Bryan Mbeumo has led the Bees in the absence of Ivan Toney, and he continues to contribute his efforts to ensure Brentford doesn’t slip further down the ladder. A win over Arsenal takes Brentford to the top half, and they will also hope the surrounding results go in their favor as well.

Arsenal returned to winning ways with back-to-back wins in the Champions League and domestically against Burnley. The Gunners needed a reprieve after losing out in the Carabao Cup and under unfortunate circumstances against Newcastle.

The Bees fell badly at Anfield; they conceded three goals without responding, but they will look back at some of their chances and wish they had taken at least one. Mbeumo raced clear when the score line was 1-0, only to fire straight at Alison.

The late kickoff on Saturday is one that could send Arsenal to the top of the table if the game against Manchester City and Liverpool ends all square, or if Liverpool wins, Arsenal will need to score a lot more than the Kops in that regard.

Brentford must think they deserve more than where they are on the log. They have missed Toney badly, but they don’t lack goals in key games. They went to Stamford Bridge and scored twice; it's the way they concede on certain days that has seen them slide down the ladder.

Arsenal can welcome back club captain Martin Odegaard, who is back in training after missing three games and Norway’s international fixture. Gabriel Jesus is also back in contention after featuring for Brazil during the break. Aaron Ramsdale will be in goal, with David Raya ineligible to face his parent club.

Nathan Collins is one major name missing for the hosts in this fixture; Josh Da Silva is back in training; and Ben Mee will be expected to feature against the Gunners. Mikkel Damsgaard will face a late fitness test, but former Arsenal target Aaron Hickey remains sidelined.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are two players the hosts must be wary of. Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah are going to be rotated, so Brentford will only have to deal with one of them at a time, but they must keep an eye on the midfield battle as well.

There’s no Thomas Partey, so Mattias Jensen will have Declan Rice to deal with, but the Gunners must also be wary of Joan Wissa. His trickery and pace will trouble any defense, but how prepared is he to face one of the meanest defenses in the league?

Verdict: Arsenal to win