Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE: Kick-off time, TV channel, team news,

Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE: Kick-off time, TV channel, team news, live stream

Arsenal take on Brentford in the Premier League at the Gtech Community Stadium

Arsenal take on Brentford with a chance to move to second in the Premier League with a win. After Chelsea’s defeat to the Gunners’ last opponent Ipswich Town, the gap to their west London rivals can open to four while closing the chasm to Liverpool to six points.

Mikel Arteta enters the new year without Bukayo Saka who has undergone surgery on his hamstring and will be out for the foreseeable future. Made worse was a knee problem suffered by Raheem Sterling and the Spaniard is lacking in options.

Thomas Frank could be without first choice keeper Mark Flekken who was one of three players to come off injured for the Bees against Brighton. Christian Norgaard is thought to be fine to face the Gunners but Flekken remains a doubt while Ben Mee will miss the games.

Arsenal will want to start the year off in a positive way and with a strong victory. Kai Havertz scored two late goals in the last two meetings with Brentford but will hope for a much less dramatic matchup this time.

You can follow all the action from the Gtech Community Stadium with football.london’s chief Arsenal writer Tom Canton in our live blog below. Updates to follow…

Brentford team confirmed

Starting XI: Flekken, Janelt, Collins, van den Berg, Roerslev, Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter, Mbeumo, Wissa

Subs: Valdimarsson, Schade, Jensen, Meghoma, Konak, Maghoma, Ji-soo, Yogane, Arthur

Arsenal team confirmed

Starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli

Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Tierney, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Rice, Kabia, Trossard

Arsenal may be forced to make Sterling call

Arsenal have no plans to terminate Raheem Sterling’s loan spell early, despite the winger’s limited game time since his deadline day switch to the Emirates Stadium from Chelsea. The Gunners are, however, assessing their options due to Premier League rules restricting their recruitment capabilities.

Sterling, who previously worked with Mikel Arteta at Manchester City, has been a bit-part player and hasn’t managed to secure regular appearances. Despite rumours of an early termination, Arsenal remain committed to the agreement.

However, they are unable to secure any more domestic loans. Premier League regulations allow only two players on loan from domestic competitors, and Sterling was joined by Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto at the Emirates Stadium.

Read the full story here.

Raheem Sterling has struggled for game time at Arsenal

Arteta, who will be without Bukayo Saka for the foreseeable future, did provide something of a positive update on one of the winger’s potential replacements who has also been out. Raheem Sterling was also absent from the team that faced Ipswich after he was confirmed to have suffered a knee problem but the Gunners’ boss was upbeat on his chances of a quick return.

“He was gutted because he had a good game against Palace here, he could have scored two goals and made an assist and in the end, he got injured in a training session,” Arteta said. “That was his opportunity because naturally, he would have played in that position. But knowing Raz, I think he will be back quite soon.”

Read the full story here.

Raheem Sterling has received a boost as Arsenal look to cope without Bukayo Saka

Arsenal vs Brentford Predicted XI

Arsenal will want to kick off 2025 in style with a big win at Brentford. This will be no easy task, however, as the Gunners face a side with an excellent home record.

This is the first match of a January which contains four different tournaments that Arsenal must navigate with as close to perfect execution as possible. All the while not having Bukayo Saka in the side who could be missing until at least March after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Arsenal can move four points clear of Chelsea with victory and close the gap to Liverpool to six. Here’s how football.london expecting Mikel Arteta to line his side up.