The brand new 12 months will kick off with fairly a Premier League fixture as Brentford host an Arsenal facet who wish to shift their assault into excessive gear. Whereas the Gunners’ protection has been rock strong this season, they’ve left a lot to be desired, solely scoring as soon as in opposition to Ipswich City and being shut out whereas dealing with Everton. The attacking woes are solely elevated with the period of time that Bukayo Saka will miss after present process surgical procedure. Whereas the January switch window might be open to start including reinforcements, none of them might be at Arsenal in time to raise them on this one. 

Listed here are our storylines, how one can watch the match and extra:

How one can watch and odds

• Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Time: 12:30 p.m.
• Location: Gtech Group Stadium — Brentford, Middlesex
• TV: USA  | Dwell stream: Fubo TV (Strive at no cost)
• Odds: Brentford +600; Draw +230; Arsenal -230

Storylines

Brentford: Regardless of Brentford’s sturdy assault, outcomes have been onerous to come back by as of late. They knocked off Newcastle United at residence earlier than going winless of their final 4 matches. It will not get any simpler with Arsenal coming to city on a brief week, however to determine themselves as a real top-half staff, Brentford might want to clear up their protection to win extra of those matches at residence. Ethan Pinnock and Kristoffer Ajer will not be capable to return to assist whereas Ben Mee additionally picked up an harm. Keeper Mark Flekken might be a game-time determination, making issues even harder on Thomas Frank.

Brentford predicted XI: Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson, Vitaly Janelt, Nathan Collins, Ji-Soo Kim, Kean Lewis-Potter, Yegor Yarmolyuk, Christian Norgaard, Mikkel Damsgaard, Mads Roerslev, Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo

Arsenal: Raheem Sterling will nonetheless be absent for this match however plenty of Arsenal’s harm points are the identical ones that they have been coping with. Ben White remains to be out together with Saka whereas Takehiro Tomiyasu may also be unavailable. Younger Myles Lewis-Skelly has been capable of step up throughout this time however in opposition to harder opposition like Brentford, expertise might be wanted.

Arsenal predicted XI: David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus 

Prediction

Brentford have been sturdy at residence however Arsenal aren’t a staff that anybody will need to face with out their prime defenders being out there.  Decide: Brentford 1, Arsenal 3