2025 in the Premier League begins with an intriguing London derby clash. Arsenal head to the Gtech Community Stadium for a standalone top-flight fixture on New Year’s Day hoping to leapfrog in-form Nottingham Forest back into second place and cut dominant Liverpool’s title advantage back down to six points. Mikel Arteta’s side play twice now before the leaders return to action on Sunday, so it’s a real chance to pile on some pressure.
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions and have won three in a row now, though lacked an attacking spark without the injured Bukayo Saka in a narrow victory over Ipswich to close out 2024. Arteta may be tempted to reshape his attack this evening in a bid to find the best solution without Saka, who will be sidelined after hamstring surgery until March at the earliest.
The 12th-place Bees are likely to pose a tough test with one of the division’s best home records, though Thomas Frank’s team have only one win in their last six games. Follow Brentford vs Arsenal live below!
Kick-off time: 5.30pm GMT | Gtech Community Stadium
How to watch: TNT Sports
Brentford team news: Bees hopeful over Flekken
Arsenal team news: Arteta faces attacking dilemma
Score prediction
15:22
Mikel Arteta may choose to shake up his Arsenal attack today after a laboured home win over Ipswich to finish 2024 in their first match without the injured Bukayo Saka, who will be sidelined until March at the earliest after surgery on his torn hamstring.
Kai Havertz could move back up front after scoring the only goal of the game from midfield against the Tractor Boys, with Gabriel Jesus’ recent scoring resurgence having come to an end in that match.
Raheem Sterling’s knee injury is not as bad as first feared but today’s game will surely come too soon for the Chelsea loanee, with defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu still long-term absentees.
Riccardo Calafiori will hope to win back the starting left-back role from young Myles Lewis-Skelly, with Oleksandr Zinchenko also pushing for involvement after returning from a calf problem.
15:14 , George Flood
Thomas Frank expressed hope that goalkeeper Mark Flekken would be fit to face Arsenal today despite being forced off injured in last week’s goalless draw at Brighton that saw depleted Brentford pick up just their second point away from home this season.
Icelandic deputy Hakon Valdimarsson came off the bench for his Premier League debut on the south coast and would make his first start this evening if Flekken is not ready.
Christian Norgaard will definitely be fit to feature despite his own knock sustained at the Amex Stadium, though centre-back Ben Mee is facing a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a minor muscle issue.
Sepp van den Berg and Mathias Jensen are available again, though Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, Igor Thiago, Gustavo Nunes, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Josh Dasilva are all still out.
15:09 , George Flood
TV channel: In the UK, today’s game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage beginning at 4:30pm GMT.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
15:05 , George Flood
Good afternoon, Happy New Year and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Brentford vs Arsenal in the Premier League.
It’s an intriguing London derby to begin 2025 in the top-flight, with Arsenal having the chance to go back second in the table with a fourth consecutive win across all competitions and cut dominant Liverpool’s title lead down to six points in the process.
Mid-table Brentford still boast one of the strongest home records in the Premier League this season and are capable of beating anyone on their day, but have won just one of their last six games now.
Stick with us for all the latest team news, match build-up and live updates from a 5:30pm GMT kick-off, plus expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings at the Gtech Community Stadium.
