Arsenal v Brentford: Back the Bees to score | OneFootball

English Premier League

Premier League leaders Arsenal hope to pick up another win against Brentford

The Premier League leaders Arsenal face a physical battle against Brentford and Kevin Hatchard believes the visitors are capable of scoring at the Emirates.

Arsenal v BrentfordWednesday 3 December, 19:30

Arsenal should cherish Stamford Bridge point

Whenever a title-chasing team like Arsenal draws a game against a side that played most of the game with 10 men, it's reasonable to suggest they'll feel it was two points dropped, but I'm not sure that applies to Sunday's 1-1 draw at Chelsea. The Blues were on a high after wiping the floor with Barcelona, and played on the front foot even after Moises Caicedo had been sent off for a rash challenge.

Arsenal didn't have first-choice centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel, and yet walked away with a draw and a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Not only that, but they kept potential challengers Chelsea six points behind them. Mikel Arteta's men have already ticked off trips to Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea, and the recent return from injury of Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres gives the Gunners depth in attack.

That said, Spanish international Mikel Merino will take some shifting at the top of the attack. Like Kai Havertz before him, Merino has been converted from midfielder to striker by Arteta, and he is producing similar results. Merino's physicality and aerial strength offers Arsenal an outlet, but he can also protect possession when needed. The former Real Sociedad and Newcastle star has netted 10 goals for club and country, including a vital equaliser at Stamford Bridge.

Saliba is a doubt after missing the game at Chelsea, while Gabriel is still out, so Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie will probably deputise again at centre-back. Club captain Martin Odegaard is pushing for a recall, while Noni Madueke could come in on the left.

Andrews is exceeding expectations at buoyant Bees

Given the widespread fears about how Brentford would cope without Thomas Frank at the helm this season, and his replacement Keith Andrews' inexperience, it feels significant that Andrews' Brentford are two places and a point above Frank's new Tottenham side in the Premier League table. It should be pointed out that those fears were largely external, with shrewd owner Matthew Benham convinced that Andrews could step up from the role of set-piece coach.

Clubs like Brentford and Brighton are experts at succession planning, and that doesn't just apply to coaches. Losing star strikers Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo over the summer could have been crippling, but after recovering from a serious knee injury, Brazilian bruiser Igor Thiago has been exceptional. The former Club Brugge forward has scored 12 goals in 14 appearances, including five goals in his last three.

Former Liverpool players Caoimhin Kelleher and Jordan Henderson have proven to be smart summer pick-ups, and Italian international full-back Michael Kayode is one of the most intriguing prospects in the Premier League, and that's not just because he takes a mean long throw. Danish playmaker Mikkel Damsgaard doesn't perhaps have the numbers his performances have deserved.

Yehor Yarmoliuk could return to the starting XI after coming on as a late substitute against Burnley, a game that saw the Bees clinch three points late on. Antoni Milambo is out long-term with a knee injury, while Frank Onyeka is also on the sidelines.

Bees can at least produce a minor sting

Brentford have scored in all but two of their competitive games this season, with Manchester City and Crystal Palace the only sides to shut them out this term. The absence of Gabriel and possibly William Saliba will be significant as Arsenal look to defend long throws and corners, while Igor Thiago is in terrific form.

Arsenal are probably the best out-of-possession team in Europe, but they have conceded at least once in each of their last four games, and they've had a tough run of fixtures of late. I think Brentford will probably lose here, but against a depleted Arsenal defence I'll back them to score.

Backing Both Teams To Score gives us an attractive price of 2.18.

Warrior Hincapie to be drawn into the battle

It shows the defensive depth that Arsenal have that Piero Hincapie, who won the league and cup double at Bayer Leverkusen, hasn't been needed as a regular starter. However, the Ecuador defender has started the last two league games against Spurs and Chelsea, and he could start again here if Saliba is still sidelined.

Hincapie is always up for the physical battle, and he committed two fouls against Chelsea, one of which was a fairly ugly aerial challenge with Trevoh Chalobah that netted the South American a yellow card. Against Igor Thiago, who has had 34 foul involvements in 14 games for Brentford this season, I think Hincapie will have his hands full.

We can back Igor Thiago to commit two fouls, which has landed in nine of his 14 games this season. If we add in an Hincapie foul, then we get a Bet Builder at evens.

If Hincapie doesn't start at centre-back, simply swap in Mosquera, who has committed a foul in five of his seven Arsenal starts. That gives you a bigger price of 2.56.

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