Morning all.
This was tipped to be Arsenal’s season to win the Premier League having finished second behind Man City for the last two. Third time lucky and all that plus City were going into a difficult period away from the pitch which I know I hoped would cause problems on it. City have gone through an awful spell but instead of capitalising on it, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have had their own problems to deal with too. Ridiculous red cards, shocking officiating and of course, injuries.
Instead of Arsenal sitting pretty at the top of the table, it is Liverpool who have raced into a nine-point lead. Unlike ourselves and City though, they have not had to deal with injuries to key players or dodgy officiating. Yet…
A nine point lead, which if we can win today will be reduced to six, is catchable but it will take an almost perfect second half of the season to do so and we would still need Liverpool to drop points. All we can do is look after our own results and hope others go through the kind of struggles we have had over the last five months. Let us not forget, it’s not just ourselves who will be trying to overtake Liverpool because City, Forest and Chelsea are still in the battle to finish top.
Today, for our first fixture of 2025, Mikel Arteta and his players take the short trip across London to face Brentford at the Gtech Stadium. The club are going through a bit of an injury crisis themselves with Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock Kristoffer, Igor Thiago, Gustavo Nunes, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Josh Dasilva all ruled out of this game and their goalkeeper Mark Flekken, is a doubt.
Arsenal have a few injuries still, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka.
What to expect from Thomas Frank’s side?
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke:
Frank switches his style and formations regularly. He’s gone with a back four in 14 of their 18 matches, but reverted to five at the back at Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as against Newcastle at home.
Brentford are the best finishers in the division, converting 17% of their chances, and much of that is down to star forwards Bryan Mbeumo (34%) and Yoane Wissa (33%) who are ranked first and second among players who have scored at least five times. Wissa is an adaptable and expert finisher from close range, while Mbeumo, cutting inside from the right has one of the deadliest left feet in the Premier League. Outside of the stellar forwards, attacking midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard has five assists to his name and is proving to be a terrific all-round attacking midfielder. In addition to creating the second-highest number of chances for Brentford, he also ranks second for tackles and duels won. He is technically excellent, but also full of industry.
They are not brilliant on the counter, registering just four shots from fast breaks – the lowest figure of all 20 top-flight teams. So, their main threat will come from transitions higher up the pitch, and from sweeping moves in the wide areas. The Bees have won the greatest number of aerial duels in 2024/25 so aiming hopeful crosses into the box is unadvisable. However I would anticipate us having a relatively large share of possession, and as Mark Flekken has been forced into more saves than any other custodian, I expect us to fashion plenty of opportunities.
I’ve not watched Brentford this season but Bryan Mbeumo has been a bit of a handful before this campaign, Yoane Wissa too, especially following the departure of Ivan Toney. Both players could cause us problems if we’re not focused, and from the off. Mikkel Damsgaard sounds like Brentford’s version of Martin Odegaard so it could be a battle of the midfield creators. A battle of the defences too by the sounds of it.
It’s going to be a tough match I’m sure as Brentford’s home record during the first five months of this campaign has been very good. They have scored a joint highest number of goals and secured as many, if not more points than any other club in the league.
It might be a new year but I’m sure like every other fan, I’d like to see a bit of the old Arsenal. The one which returned from Dubai last January and started the second half of the season strong. Very strong.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, hope 2025 brings joy, peace and good health. Thank you all for your contributions to Highbury House for the last year too. Without you, this place would have folded years ago. And to the man behind the scenes who keeps the site running smoothly, I thank you wholeheartedly.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Thanks for the good wishes, can I repeat my message from earlier this morning, I wish everyone whatever they wish themselves for 2025.
I read this morning that Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, believes Arsenal are the world’s best at set pieces. That’s some accolade. However, he says is team are fully aware of the danger and have a plan to counteract it. The absence through injury of centre back Ben Mee may scupper those plans though.
The fact that we can play a relatively settled back five is a comfort, midfield and attack is a bit of a lottery but I’m sure Arteta has his finger on the pulse and will come up with a winning combination. 😉
Happy New Year to H.H.
Always an enjoyable read.
Thank you
Morning Cicero, all.
Thanks Allen.
The absence of Ben Mee is a good for us. He’s a bit of a thug..
I think we’ll see Rice and Partey in midfield, Havertz up top with Jesus and Gabriel either side and Odegaard pulling the midfield strings 🙏
Good morning all and Happy New year.
Those red cards still annoy me when each week we see balls still being moved away by offending players with very few of them resulting in any further punishment.
I like that line up Rico and keeping Brentford’s fast storing pair quiet will be a challenge, but one we can overcome.
Afternoon all,
Happy New Year everyone. I’ve just seen the Ipswich game,talk about flat. At least we got the three points,clean sheet too. The Chelsea result at Ipswich was hilarious,when you think about it the three big London teams before the season started anyway would have been Arsenal,Chelsea and Spurs. We are the only one not to lose to Ipswich.
Today’s game is another big test,we are now in a period of big games every 3 days.
I agree with Ricos line up as our first choice,Trossard is a fantastic player but usually more effective coming off the bench. It’s never really been the Arteta way but perhaps Trossard,Jesus and Martinelli will rotate over the next few games. I also hope we make use of 5 subs,if the game situation allows.
They do me too Berg, they were just ridiculous and so obviously biased against us. The very next day, a Chelsea defender did the same but no red card. It’s infuriating.
I think Calafiori might come in at left back to try and stop them getting down our right, although I’m pretty sure MLS would do just fine too.
Agree Limey, this month is hideous as far as fixtures go. Subs and rotation will be key. Hopefully White and Tomi will be back to bolster the team/squad soon.
One youngster has left the club already. Josh Robinson has joined Wigan.
Hope any signings we have planned can be done as quickly… lol
Calafiori has hit the ground running, I think he and MLS will rotate today. It’s also a game that Nwaneri may get some minutes to occupy them in the last quarter with his close ball control.
Happy New Year rico, all. As well as the reds there would be 4 less points gap on Liverpool, if a supposed foul hadn’t stopped our winner at end. And the pathetic letter of the law, that is now convenient forgotten every match, still angers so much!
Much depends on how the game goes I guess but yep, I’d love us to be in a position where Nwaneri can have minutes.
Afternoon Andrew, yep. No one other than us want Arsenal to win the league. And to think I believed Webb would be more honest than Riley.
Happy New Year Rico and all the family of Housers. Let’s hope it brings us all health, wealth and the Premiership top prize. Continuing with the humbling of the Bees.
Coygs.
Officially Webb supported Rotherham , ain’t it strange that they never supported first division clubs in boyhood. ?
However he had a special relationship with A;ex Ferguson as reported in 2011 :- Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to be fined by the FA after describing referee Howard Webb as ‘definitely the best in the country’. Is one headline regurgitated on google .
This of course ties in to the Wenger period and of course the rivalry at that time between the two managers.
I don’t doubt that the feelings about our club are still close to Webb’s heart and probably were near the top of the reasons that he was appointed following the biased cheat that was Riley.
Actually Berg I think Calafiori hit the wall a time or two too often and suffered several injuries as a result, Arteta will/ should think twice before rushing him back.
Ha ha, point taken Cicero.
I enjoy watching him, he gives that impetus needed sometimes. To be fair, th EPL is a tough step up for him so maybe Arteta will be able to rotate a bit more soon. So many defensive injuries maybe forced Arteta’s hand.
Perhaps another to bring on late in the game if we’re suffering.
Amen to that Wavy…
So much for impartiality Potter, but then that doesn’t surprise me. After all, he is an ex copper…
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Martinelli Jesus, Trossard.
Wrong lineup Cicero. 😜
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Nwaneri, Jesus.
Subs: Neto. Kiwior, Tierney, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Rice, Kabia, Trossard.
Who is Kabia?
Harvaetz injury? ill?
A central defender Jm, he made an appearance in the league cup.
I got that line up from The Metro Rico, supposedly “confirmed”. Bunch of Muppets!!! 😕
😂 Cicero. Sums the media up, report first regardless of whether it’s the truth..
Very un-Arsenal way to concede. MO08 gives the ball away sloppily and Raya too slow to dive to his left and was beaten at the near post
Jesus gets the equalizer after Flekken couldnt hold on to a Partey shot. 1-1 now.
Nice goal from Jesus, good reaction header.
Raya won’t be happy conceding, but it’s well known that that’s what Mbeumo does.
Odegaard not at the races tonight, sloppy pass to give away possession in midfield and too any passes being over hit.
We need to start the second half on the front foot.
Net game will see Partey at RB for sure. Timber is suspended
Merino makes it 2-1.
Martinelli makes it 3-1
That’s the way to do it!! 1 – 3.
Nwaneri was involved in the last two goals. not directly with an assist but he was the last one to touch the ball before Collins and Flekken cleared poorly and Merono and Martinelli pounced.
Nwaneri, Rice, Calafiori off and in their place come on Rice, Trossard and Lewis Skelly
That is a super result 💪👏
One goal conceded, three goals scored, no clean sheet but three points and second in the league at the half way point in the season.
I’m pretty sure that we would all have been happy with that at the beginning of the season.
🔔🔔🔔
Yes when you consider that Brentford are no push overs at their own stadium.
We have only a point less than we had at the same amount of games (19) last season
Nwaneri on the the right wing didn’t look at all out of place. With Timber suspended for the next league game will we see Calafiori or Myles Lewis-Skerry at right back?
Ben White with a bit of luck but more likely to be Partey..
In my opinion, the way he reacted and held the game, Partney was Arsenal’s best. It seems to me to be a mistake if they put him back on the right defense. Callafiori was not well; Raya very insecure in the 1st part; Odegaard was a shadow. The team seemed to me to be “saturated” with ideas and not very clear-sighted. Physical health is far from ideal.
Could be something to do with a bug in the camp Jm.
Agree re Partey, he was excellent and imo, should never play RB again.
I am glad that Jesus scored again however that makes me ill at ease. He is scoring lots around the transfer window and if he continues this rate there is a chance that the management will think we don’t need a striker. Then when the window shuts Jesus will get injured and we will remain with the strikers we have now
This must have been the best day of the year so far for Arsenal 😂😂
I’d like to think people at the club know his form/fitness is unreliable..
Jesus would be far more effective if he stopped trying for the sympathy vote and got up and got on with the game. Refs have seen far too much attempted simulation from him to be fooled.
I thought he’d been better recently. That one today in the box was about the defender getting the last touch imo and wanting a corner rather than the goal kick.
HNY, that went well in the end although I’m not going to pretend that I wasn’t concerned at 1-0, tbh I thought we were definitely going to drop points again but when the 3rd went in I gave a roar of relief and began to relax, but following this club should come with a health warning!
1-3 was a fair result but when has football, VAR or the PGMOL been fair about anything.
Conspiracy time now:
The Premier League, media and TV need Arsenal now, they need us in it to make it a contest because City are a busted flush, Chelsea are unreliable and Forest, well let’s be serious!
So yeah, we’ll probably get the rub of the green as long as Liverpool keep on winning because Liverpool running away with it makes the ‘product’ look weak to advertisers.
But if Liverpool drop a few points and Arsenal close the gap the PGMOL/VAR crew will step in the stitch us up.
Great result but Arsenal winning the Premier League isn’t in the script so be prepared for the fix…
(I still haven’t forgotten the Rice, Saliba and Trossard red cards from the early weeks of the season)
Maybe the tables will turn Kev and we’ll start getting the rub of the green and Liverpool will get the harsh treatment. I really hope so.
New post up.