It’s Arsenal vs Brentford in the Premier League tomorrow, and Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have revealed their predictions.
The Gunners will go into the game on the back of a shock defeat. Sean Dyche’s Everton handed us just our second league loss of the season last week, and Mikel Arteta will want to right the wrongs tomorrow.
Here’s what Sutton and Merson think will happen at the Emirates.
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton predict Arsenal vs Brentford
Arsenal’s defeat at Everton hasn’t proved costly thanks to Manchester City slipping up against Tottenham Hotspur.
We’re still five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand over the defending champions, and a win tomorrow will widen that gap further – temporarily at least.
Brentford are never an easy side to face – we learnt that the hard in the opening game of last season. However, we’re at home tomorrow, and Arteta will back his side to get all three points.
Sutton and Merson believe we’ll win tomorrow and they’ve both predicted an identical scoreline.
Sutton wrote on BBC Sport: “This is a really interesting game because of Arsenal’s last result, their defeat at Everton, and Brentford’s form – they are unbeaten for nine games now.
“The Gunners are the only team who have beaten the Bees on their own patch this season – a really impressive 3-0 win in September which was the first real statement that Mikel Arteta’s side meant business in the title race. Arteta could really do with a similar result this time, to get back on track after that Everton defeat before Manchester City visit Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.
“Last week was as poor a performance as I have seen all season from the Gunners, who didn’t really dictate the game or ever look like they were in control. They absolutely need to bounce back from that, and I think they will – but it will not be easy, because Brentford are streetwise, well-organised and carry a real attacking threat. The Bees will be a handful, but Arsenal will find a way to win.”
Sutton’s prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Brentford
Merson wrote on Sportskeeda: “This is Arsenal’s biggest game of the season by a million miles. They’ve just had a shocking result against Everton, and it was a poor performance. I’ve said it before – you’re going to lose football matches. It’s about how you respond after you lose.
“If Arsenal had defeated Everton last week, they would’ve won the Premier League. They would’ve gone eight points clear at the top with a game in hand. Everton had a lot of energy about them, and I felt sorry for Jorginho the other day. I didn’t think it was the right time to bring him on.
“If Arsenal win this game and then get a result against City next week, it’s all over. With their fixture list in the Premier League after these two games, you’d expect Arsenal to avoid defeat. If Arsenal win the next two games, I think they’ll be Premier League champions.
“This is going to be a hard game, but I’m backing Arsenal to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table this weekend.”
Merson’s prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Brentford
The Insider’s predicted XI
Arteta has been fairly consistent with his team selection throughout the season, and we don’t expect that to change tomorrow, even though we face Manchester City in the middle of next week.
Aaron Ramsdale is set to start behind a back four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka will start in the middle of the park with Martin Odegaard pulling the strings in front of them.
Our front three will once again be Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.
COYG!
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