Arsenal v Brentford live: Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze benched for London derby in Premier League | OneFootball

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'A vital game' - Arteta urges fans to show 'animal' spirit vs Brentford

Premier League leaders Arsenal host Brentford tonight in a battle of set-piece masters at the Emirates Stadium tonight.

Mikel Arteta’s men have looked secure at the top of the table but dropped valuable points in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea last time out, despite the Blues having Moises Caicedo sent off late in the first half.

Brentford are fresh from a 3-1 win over relegation candidates Burnley, with striker Igor Thiago making history for the club as the quickest player to reach 10 goals in one campaign, needing just 13 games.

The Bees will need Thiago to be on the same top form at the Emirates tonight, particularly with the Gunners expected to be without defensive stalwart William Saliba.

Arsenal 0-0 Brentford, 5 mins

Lots of talk about set-pieces in the build-up to the game and Arsenal win the first corner of the day.

Rice with a typically testing ball whipped in, which is only half-cleared initially, but Brentford shut down the second ball and then win a free-kick.

Just some early set-piece jabbing to test the resolve.

Luke Baker3 December 2025 19:35

Keith Andrews explains Brentford's rotation

Brentford’s squad rotation tonight, with top scorer Igor Thiago, Jordan Henderson, Nathan Collins and Mikel Damsgaard all benched, has raised some eyebrows.

But Bees boss Keith Andrews has explained all.

“I feel it's right,” has told Sky Sports. “It’s a tough week, tough games.

“The squad depth we have, the luxury of making changes and a couple of knocks we had to consider. Ultimately where we're at as a squad, and I've been quick to say that all season long, with the strength in depth we have, the competition for places we have means there are tough decisions I have to make when it comes to the starting XI.

“I've picked what I feel is the right team to start this game but invariably it won't be the team that finishes it.”

Luke Baker3 December 2025 19:15

Keith Andrews: Brentford were first to the table with a set-piece coach

Keith Andrews has been making sure Brentford have been getting their flowers on being ahead of the curve in terms of prioritising set-pieces and mentioned it again ahead of the match this evening.

When asked by the Sky Sports team whether the Bees have been focussing on attacking or defensive set-pieces, Andrews said: “Both really, to be honest.

“Arsenal are obviously a difficult team to prepare for. They're very good in what they do, they're very consistent in what they do and Mikel [Arteta] respects every phase of the game, which is something I really admire in how he sets his team up, and set-pieces is a very prevalent part of that.

“The thing I would say, Brentford were first to the table around that set-piece coach route - and that wasn't me, that was in years gone by - so it's an area of the game that is very, very important to our football club and I think it will be important tonight.”

Luke Baker3 December 2025 18:57