English Premier League leaders Arsenal will hope to come back to winning ways and maintain their lead when high-flying Brentford visit Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Arsenal are top of the standings with 50 points from 20 matches and have a five-point lead over Man City. They can stretch that lead before City play their game on Sunday, but will be wary of lost momentum having lost consecutive competitive matches. Both the defeats have come by a 1-0 margin against Man City in the FA Cup and to Everton in the league. On that note, the Gunners will be happy to be back home having dropped points just once all season long in the league – winning eight and drawing one. Only Newcastle were able to stop them from scoring, so the goals should also be back on the plate. With seven of those nine home league matches featuring goals at both ends, we may be in for another exciting match.
Brentford are 7th going into the weekend matches with 33 points from 21 matches and only marginally outside top-six. There’s a silent thought sweeping the club about qualifying for Europe and their recent form has lived up to those expectations. The Bees are unbeaten in nine league matches, winning five and drawing four – a run that included matches against Man City, Tottenham and Liverpool. This upturn in form has coincided with improvement of their away form as Brentford remain unbeaten in four away league matches, winning and drawing two each. They are likely to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal and test the scores having netted in seven of their last ten away Premier League matches.