Brentford host Arsenal in the Premier League tonight, with the visitors looking to keep the pressure on a Liverpool side who are threatening to run away with the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side struggled for goals in recent matches against Fulham and Everton, though they have returned to form with wins over Crystal Palace and Ipswich as they adjust to life without the injured Bukayo Saka.
Having let an eight-point lead slip themselves during the 2022/23 season, the London club will be fully aware that the title race is far from over, though they can ill afford many more slip-ups as we enter the second half of the campaign.
Their opening business of 2025 sees them take on a side that have enjoyed the comforts of home this season, with Brentford boasting an impressive record at the Gtech Community Stadium and eyeing more success against their cross-town visitors.
Follow all the latest updates in our live blog below:
Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE
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Brentford host Arsenal in the Premier League | Live on TNT Sports
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Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli.
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Brentford XI: Flekken; Janelt, Collins, Van den Berg, Roerslev; Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Lewis-Potter, Mbeumo, Wissa.
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GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-0 Arsenal (Bryan Mbeumo, 13 minutes)
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GOAL! Brentford 1-1 ARSENAL (Gabriel Jesus, 29 minutes)
Brentford FC 1 – 1 Arsenal FC
HALF TIME: Brentford 1-1 Arsenal
18:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 45 + 3 minutes
18:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Time ticks away on the first half as an Ethan Nwaneri dummy evades Gabriel Jesus. Brentford threaten to break intricately with speed but Bryan Mbeumo can’t quite bring the ball under his control.
Forward come Arsenal again. Mikel Merino leaps for a cross and doesn’t make contact.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 45 + 1 minutes
18:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Into four added minutes as Gabriel Jesus rejoins proceedings with Brentford working their way towards the Arsenal box.
A stray pass ends that adventure.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 43 minutes
18:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The home fans urge their team on, hoping for a bright end to the half. Those supporters are soon booing when Gabriel Jesus hits the deck, though there’s blood in the mouth of the Brazilian after a rather stiff shot from Mikkel Damsgaard’s flailing left arm. There’s no malice whatsoever in it, but that’s got to hurt – and the chant of “same old Arsenal, always cheating” is a little uncharitable.
Jesus and his swollen lip will be back on.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 41 minutes
18:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brentford work the ball efficiently up the pitch. Mikel Roerslev is happy to let a blocked cross go away for a corner.
Bryan Mbeumo again will take. Sepp van den Berg surges to the near post to attack it but can’t quite get there.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 40 minutes
18:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lively interplay between Mikkel Damsgaard and Bryan Mbeumo sees the latter fouled by Mikel Merino.
Here’s how close they were to a 2-0 lead – tight!
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 38 minutes
18:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A slightly worrying moment for Mark Flekken, who nearly lets a Riccardo Calafiori cross curl out of his reach before making a late thrust to punch it away. Good whip on that ball from the left-back.
Martin Odegaard’s curvature is less impressive. Flekken watches his diagonal bounce behind.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 36 minutes
18:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brentford load the box having earned a corner, with Bryan Mbeumo wandering across to deliver. He fails to beat Gabriel Jesus at the near post.
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal, 32 minutes
18:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This has been a useful period for Gabriel Jesus, putting a tough 2024 behind him with a good December and carrying that scoring form into 2025.
Moments beforehand, though, Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot had been no more than three inches from doubling Brentford’s lead. Sloppy and sublime goalkeeping from David Raya in a split second, but he did just enough.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 ARSENAL (Gabriel Jesus, 29 minutes)
17:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Nodded home on the rebound! Arsenal pounce to equalise!
Oh, Brentford. It’s a bad goal to concede, two or three chances to clear on the edge of their box passed up. Instead, a skew falls invitingly for Thomas Partey to larrup at goal. Mark Flekken saves firmly to his left yet the bouncing ball is there to be capitalised upon, and a stooping Gabriel Jesus directs it home.
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 28 minutes
17:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Centimetres from a second! David Raya lets the ball burst through his grips after a fierce driven shot but scrambles somehow to claw the ball off his line!
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 26 minutes
17:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A turnover in possession allows Martin Odegaard to push the pace, and the Arsenal captain soon has a free kick to size up. 40 yards out, right of centre – can he get the delivery right? Gabriel Jesus issues some final instructions before he does…
So nearly! But the offside flag is up! Arsenal’s players shuffle like Space Invaders just in front of the Brentford defensive line before breaking between them, but Thomas Partey had gone too soon and makes a hash of his finish regardless. Still, another nifty move.
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 25 minutes
17:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A bright Brentford move forces Gabriel into a superb defensive header with a pair of arriving home players contesting.
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 21 minutes
17:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brentford are growing into this, pressing higher by the minute have spent much of the opening skirmishes bunkered. David Raya threatens to give the ball away by blooping it into the backside of a Brentford blocker, though the ricochet bounces favourably for Arsenal.
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 19 minutes
17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brentford are yet to truly settle into a passing flow, though Nathan Collins and the rest of the back five strum the ball about effectively here. As the Arsenal press relaxes, forward they go, with Bryan Mbeumo hitting the deck under pressure from Gabriel. Free kick given on the halfway line.
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 17 minutes
17:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Nasty! A real lunge from Jurrien Timber on Keane Lewis-Potter rightly brings a yellow card. It’s a costly caution for the full-back – he’ll miss the next game.
Brentford 1-0 Arsenal, 15 minutes
17:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It had been a really controlled start from Arsenal, though you do wonder about the balance of their midfield without Declan Rice. Both Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino seem keen to get in the box, and once Odegaard gave that ball away, there was no cover with his two midfield mates ahead of him.
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-0 Arsenal (Bryan Mbeumo, 13 minutes)
17:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
First shot, first goal! Bryan Mbeumo strikes!
It’s poor from Martin Odegaard to start, a lax, lazy pass that is cut out by Mikkel Damsgaard. Forward goes the Dane beyond the Norwegian, connecting with Mbeumo in transition up the right. Mbeumo opens up his body to feign for the far corner and then drags his shot to the near, wrong-footing David Raya and finding the back of the net. That’s the threat the hosts poste!
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 12 minutes
17:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Thomas Partey does well as he commits to a loose ball and manages to win it, the midfielder risking leaving his defence exposed by surging after it yet justified in his call.
Later, Partey makes an excellent tackle from behind on Yoanne Wissa after the forward had been freed by Bryan Mbeumo’s backheel.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 9 minutes
17:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Good stuff from Ethan Nwaneri to earn a corner, and the youngster will take, too. A trebucheted cross from the right lands on the head of Thomas Partey at the far post but the amplitude is too grand to consider a direct header goalwards, and the supporting work is again not what it needs to be to capitalise on a bouncing ball in the Brentford box.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 7 minutes
17:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A bit of pressure is beginning to build on Brentford, who are struggling to escape their own end. A floated Martin Odegaard cross is headed back into a dangerous area by Gabriel Martinelli, though there is no Arsenal player following up to lash it on goal.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 5 minutes
17:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Good footwork from Gabriel Jesus in the box and there are a couple of Brentford legs snatching at his ankles, none making contact that would surely have prompted a point to the spot from the referee. They get bodies back to force Jesus back and Arsenal will reload from deeper.
Gabriel Martinelli tries to get down the outside against Mads Roerslev, but the right-back has the Brazilian well handled. Away for a goal kick.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 4 minutes
17:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A first glimpse for the hosts, a long thump from goalkeeper Mark Flekken and flick on from Yoanne Wissa freeing Keane Lewis-Potter up the left. His low cross is cut out sharply by David Raya with Bryan Mbeumo waiting beyond to slide home.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 3 minutes
17:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle
An early problem for Gabriel Jesus, who took a dig in the midriff from Christian Norgaard as the Dane made a perfectly fair tackle. He’s fine to carry on with a grimace.
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal, 1 minute
17:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It loooks like a back four for now from Brentford, though Vitaly Janelt is dropping in at times from midfield. Arsenal in a familiar formation with Ethan Nwaneri in the Bukayo Saka role on the right.
KICK OFF!
17:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And we are underway in west London.
Brentford vs Arsenal
17:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, the first Premier League action of the year is upon us. Will we be off and running with a bang?
Mikel Arteta speaks to TNT Sports ahead of kick off
17:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle
“There have been a lot of highs, a lot of work, a lot of commitment. We’ve broken so many records but we don’t have the big titles we’ve been looking for. There is a gap there we have to fill.
“Kai Havertz wasn’t feeling good, a few players are like this. We have nine games this month, we have to be really careful because of the size of the squad we have.
“We know with the amount of games that we play, injuries happen, but we will try our best to get that sorted. Ethan Nwaneri has to play with that flow, energy and talent that he’s got. He’s got another great opportunity today.”
A huge chance for Ethan Nwaneri
17:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One imagines that Ethan Nwaneri will be leaning on Bukayo Saka all he can as he looks to make the same journey out of Arsenal’s academy and into the first team set-up. The 17-year-old is clearly a player rated very highly by Mikel Arteta but filling Saka’s boots tonight will be a test of his readiness for regular football in some of the bigger games. Nwaneri spoke recently of the influence that both Saka and Martin Odegaard, a former prodigy himself, have had on him this season.
“Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have both been great for me, and not just me but all the young players,” said Nwaneri.
“They help us with everything, and somebody like Bukayo has had that journey already. That’s really important – he knows what we are going through, he can help me, offer me insights on what can help me.
“He’s so good to talk to because he’s so chilled and humble, but also I try to watch him as much as I can and learn that way. Martin as well, he was playing when he was 15 too, so to have that experience in the dressing room is great.
“I just know and I see where I want to be, and where I’m going to be, and I focus on that. Nobody has really seen anything from me yet, just a small snippet of what’s to come, so I’ve got a much bigger picture in my mind that I want to work towards.”
Marcus Rashford, Martin Zubimendi and six more players who could be on the move this January
17:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The transfer window is officially open, bringing with it the usual speculation and nonsense that arrives at this time every year. You would think that Arsenal may be in the market for a wide forward of some kind to cover for Bukayo Saka – might any of our list of players who could be on the move suit Mikel Arteta’s squad? Brentford have managed to find value in January before and could also look to make certain of their Premier League place with a key addition or two.
Rashford, Zubimendi and six other players who could be on the move this January
It was like he was built in a lab – Declan Rice talks up Myles Lewis-Skelly
16:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
An undoubted positive for Arsenal of late has been the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has taken an unlikely opportunity to seize the left-back shirt. The versatile, confident youngster has been touted highly by teammate Declan Rice, and though only on the bench tonight, looks a top prospect.
It was like he was built in a lab – Declan Rice talks up Myles Lewis-Skelly
Thomas Frank says Brentford must show set-piece strength
16:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brentford boss Thomas Frank acknowledges his side must produce their “A game” on New Year’s Day after branding opponents Arsenal the “best set-piece team” in world football.
Mikel Arteta’s men go into Wednesday evening’s London derby at the Gtech Community Stadium having scored 10 of their 35 Premier League goals this term from dead-ball situations following a total of 22 last season.
Frank has backed his players to deal with the threats posed by a Gunners team reaping regular rewards under the guidance of former Bees set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
“Arsenal is the best set-piece team not only in the Premier League but in the world right now,” the Dane told a press conference.
“They are so aggressive and they are well-coached – but we are also good at set-pieces and we will be ready.
“We are good at defending corners. As far as I know, we have only conceded from one corner so far – which was a short corner against Bournemouth (a 3-2 win on November 9) – in the Premier League this season.
“We defend very well so we trust our own processes but, of course, with huge respect to Arsenal and what they can come with. We know we need to play our A game; not just in set-pieces but with every aspect of the game.”
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to ‘be like a hammer’ in pursuit of Liverpool
16:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Mikel Arteta said it is hammer time for Arsenal in their bid to stop Liverpool from running away with the Premier League title.
The Gunners head into today’s fixxture nine points adrift of Arne Slot’s rampant Reds.
Liverpool, who put five past West Ham in their last match, have won 14 of their 18 fixtures so far, placing them as the clear favourites to roar to championship glory.
But Arteta has not given up hope of reeling Liverpool back in to avoid finishing as runners-up for a third consecutive season.
Asked how hard it will be to catch Slot’s men, Arteta replied: “We have to continue to be like a hammer, be there every day, and if someone wins all the matches then we congratulate them and then go to the next season.
“But if they don’t – and in history that hasn’t happened – then we will be there.”
Team news – Brentford
16:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle
No Ben Mee for Brentford, with Keane Lewis-Potter seemingly moving into a more advanced role with Kevin Schade on the bench.
Brentford XI: Flekken; Janelt, Collins, Van den Berg, Roerslev; Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Lewis-Potter, Mbeumo, Wissa.
Team news – Arsenal
16:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A first Premier League start for Ethan Nwaneri is the headline news from the Arsenal team. Mikel Merino starts in midfield with Declan Rice given a rest on the bench. No Raheem Sterling yet, and Kai Havertz isn’t included in the squad.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli.
🟣 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔵
🇪🇸 Merino in the middle
❤️ Nwaneri makes first PL start
⚡️Jesus leads the lineLet’s do this, Gunners ✊ pic.twitter.com/tjYLSADhdY
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 1, 2025
Team news on the way…
16:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, confirmation of the two line-ups this evening should be with us shortly. Will there be much rotation from Mikel Arteta as he manages this busy period? And will Brentford be at full strength after those injury scares in their last outing?
Mikel Arteta reveals full extent of Bukayo Saka injury in huge blow to Arsenal’s title chances
15:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for at least two months, manager Mikel Arteta has revealed, in a major blow to their Premier League title chances.
Saka went down in pain clutching his right hamstring during the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, and has now undergone surgery on the torn muscle.
Mikel Arteta reveals extent of Bukayo Saka injury in blow to Arsenal’s title hopes
Predicted line-ups
15:40 , Chris Wilson
Brentford XI: Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Mee, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard.
Early team news
15:35 , Chris Wilson
For Arsenal, Raheem Sterling is expected to miss this match, though his injury is less serious than the club originally feared. Riccardo Calafiori has returned from injury, though Miles Lewis-Skelly has likely done enough to cement his place at left-back.
The remaining long-term absentees, including Bukayo Saka and Ben White, remain sidelined.
Early team news
15:30 , Chris Wilson
Brentford have two new injury concerns after the draw to Brighton, with goalkeeper Mark Flekken having been forced off and Ben Mee also coming off. Both will be assessed ahead of this match, as will Sepp van den Berg, who is also a doubt.
In addition, Josh Dasilva, Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Igor Thiago, and Gustavo Nunes are all expected to miss the match.
Is Brentford v Arsenal on TV?
15:20 , Chris Wilson
When is Brentford v Arsenal?
Brentford v Arsenal is due to kick off at 5.30pm GMT on Wednesday, 1 January at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, London.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 4.30pm. Subscribers can also watch the action on the discovery+ app.
If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE
15:10 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal travel across the capital to face Brentford in the first Premier League match of the new year tonight, with Mikel Arteta’s side looking to keep up some pressure on leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners sit nine points behind Liverpool at kick-off, but they know that the title is far from over at this stage of the season having themselves given up an eight-point lead over Manchester City as late as April in 2022/23.
But with Liverpool still showing relentless form at the top, Arteta knows that any slip up could give the Reds an unassailable lead, and tonight they come up against a Brentford side that have caused many teams problems this season.
The Bees sit in 12th ahead of kick-off, but could move into the top half of the table with a win tonight.
Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE
14:58 , Chris Wilson
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal.
The new year begins with a London derby of sorts as the Gunners look to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the table, while the Bees look to climb up the table having started 2025 in 12th place.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, updates and team news here.