“After the Lord Mayor’s Show comes the rag parade” is a time honoured phrase that one of my father’s bridge partners used to deploy regularly to describe a disappointing hand at Bridge – a phrase repeated so often that it has been seared into my cortex. Hopefully it isn’t going to be an appropriate descriptor for this weekend’s match after the Arsenal’s phenomenal performance on Tuesday evening – widely and aptly described in the last few days as the greatest night in the Emirates Stadium’s history (so far) in the twenty years, or so, since it opened.
Next up, on Saturday evening, is a visit from Brentford FC. The Bees currently sit in 12th place on 42 points, 4 and 5 points above Manure and the Marshdwellers respectively, i.e. firmly mid table mediocity, safe from relegation but with little prospect of bagging a European place.
This is Brentford’s fourth successive season in the Premiership and they are on course to improve on last season’s 16th place which was a severe disappointment to them after their high-water mark of 9th in 22-23, after establishing themselves in 13th place on their return to the top flight the season before. Of course, we all remember their first game back in the top flight on Friday 13th August 2021 when the defeat at the Community Stadium of a patched-up Arsenal team bearing little resemblance to today’s eleven (only White, Tierney and Martinelli survive) provoked wild celebrations from the two most execrable pundits on the planet.
Since that defeat, we have won all but one of our six Premier League meetings – a draw at our place in February 2023 – usually by a one goal margin. The cumulative scoreline of all seven games in the Premiership era is 12-6 in our favour. Our results in the modern era stand in stark contrast to a dismal record against Brentford in the old First Division where, before their extended exile in 1947, they were, for no clear reason, Arsenal’s bogey team, against whom our record was two wins, three draws and five defeats with a cumulative scoreline of 8-14.
I have no reason to expect Thomas Frank’s philosophy to have radically changed since we beat them 3-1 at the Community Stadium on New Year’s Day with Mikel Merino providing a preview of his striking future by scoring our second goal. We can again expect a high press when we play out from the back, a congested central area of the pitch and a low block if we don’t move the ball swiftly upfield, then whenever we lose possession, a rapid transition to breakaway attacks involving Mbuemo, Wissa and Schade, supported by Damsgaard, Norgaard and the wing backs.
Brentford boast an excellent away record in 2025, having won five of their six Premier League matches on the road. Although they lost their last away game 2-1 to Newcastle, their prior away defeat was on 15 December, 2-1 at Chelsea. That was followed by a scoreless draw against Brighton before beginning a sequence of away victories: 0-5 at Southampton, 1-2 at Palace, 0-1 at West Ham, 0-4 at Leicester and 1-2 at Bournemouth. While the drubbings of hapless relegation fodder can be expected for any competent, well-organised team, the results against Palace and Bournemouth, and perhaps West Ham, are more impressive and suggest that Brentford will approach this game reasonably confidently. Especially as we played a demanding match against Real Madrid only 4 days before while they were being drilled by Thomas Frank all week on how to neutralise the Arsenal’s threat and exploit our weaknesses. We certainly can’t expect Brentford to roll over.
In selecting his team, I expect Mikel to have more than half an eye on the second leg against Los Blancos next Wednesday and to make as many changes to the obvious first XI as he did against Everton. Nonetheless, he will put out a team that he expects to win the game. Predicting his selection is therefore rather difficult. However, I think that players with recent fitness issues, such as Timber and Saka, will be rested for at least the first 45-60 minutes while I expect Partey, Martinelli and possibly also Rice, Ødegaard, MLS and Trossard to start on the bench. On the other hand, there are players who need minutes who will almost certainly start. As too, almost certainly, will Saliba and Kiwior, to further build that defensive partnership ‘under fire’ while I expect both our starting fullbacks from Tuesday may be rested. On the right, Ben White needs minutes while Timber needs rest. However, on the left, the youthful vigour of MLS may be preferred over the option of Tierney while the Scot would be preferable to Zinchenko given the threat of Mbuemo. However, the Ukrainian may get an opportunity to strut his stuff in midfield, if Ødegaard is rested. I think Partey will almost certainly be replaced by Jorginho to allow the Ghanan to prepare himself for a reprise of Tuesday’s masterclass when he takes the field at the Bernabéu but my instinct also to save Rice for Madrid may not be shared by Arteta and his energy and forcefulness would certainly strengthen our midfield against Brentford’s midfield giants. If Rice plays, Trossard may get the nod to replace Ødegaard at ‘inside right’, given his ability to alternate with Merino up front. Merino will almost certainly get another chance to sharpen his striking instincts but this time he will be flanked by the up and coming Nwaneri and, for at least a half, the generally down and going Sterling, perhaps more appropriately described as regularly down-going Sterling. None of our longterm walking wounded can be expected to return, though there were rumblings yesterday that Havertz might be available before the season’s end if there was a big occasion!
Hence, I expect the following starting XI or possibly something completely different:
Raya
White, Saliba, Kiwior, MLS
Trossard, Jorginho, Rice
Nwaneri Merino Sterling
I expect the familiar scenario of Arsenal dominating possession, camped on the edge of a nine or ten man defence and working the ball across the pitch and back again trying to create an opening. I also expect the appearance of several first team regulars from the bench as the game progresses if we do start with such a makeshift team and we need the extra creativity and threat. Hopefully the central defence who performed so brilliantly against Real Madrid will build further mutual understanding and preserve another clean sheet.
The Holic Pound? Oddschecker offers the classic 1-0 to the Arsenal at 15/2 or a 2-0 victory at 8/1. I have a sneaking suspicion that 2-1 to the Arsenal, also available at 8/1, is the smart bet.
Go win, Arsenal!
Enjoy the game Holics, near and far.
That is a well-reasoned walk-through of the selection dilemma, Bath. Your team looks as likely as any other.
Thanks for the excellent preview, Bath. Your team selection seems very well considered but it is interesting to see your ‘holic pound prediction laying no odds on whether the predicted two Arsenal goals will be scored on Declan Rice free kicks. I guess the key aspect is to just wait and see. COYG swat the Bees and dodge their bite.
Well reasoned team selection, Bath. Getting the collective mindset absolutely correct after Tuesday night will test MA8’s talents.
I wouldn’t be amazed to see Rice rested, Tierney start at LB with MLS moving into the left midfield berth alongside Jorginho where the young man seems to spend most of his time already in an inverting capacity. He is an astonishing talent. One of our best nursery products ever.
Thomas Partey shouldn’t even be in the stadium and I wish there was some way that Saliba could be cocooned until next Wednesday night.
Nice preview Bath. In other news Vinai joins Spurs as CEO.
https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2025/april/tottenham-hotspur-appoints-vinai-venkatesham-as-chief-executive-officer/
What a tart! Has the man no respect?
Excellent preview Bath
Picking the team is a matter of guesswork at this point but we have had excellent bits of news today . Calafiori may be fit for Wednesday and Kai Havertz may be back before the end of the season
We ought to rotate heavily tomorrow and I hope we start White , Zinny , Tierney , Trossard , Jorginho and Nwaneri . It’s possible we may see Jimi Gower tomorrow . I hope we win and do it without stress or injury
Cheees Bath! Well thought out preview, I expect the same things.
C100@4: Like others before him, he will come to learn the folly of being at the wrong end of the Seven Sisters Road.
Was Vinai any good? Never really knew what he was up to. Either way it’s a demotion but presumably with a pay rise. Hope he isn’t giving away our secrets.
Crackle of two way radio …….,,,
Agent Vinai here, repeat Agent Vinai- message is
‘ The Cockerel has landed repeat the Cockerel has landed .’
‘ Beginning phase 2 of operation- Murder in the hen house .’ I
Over and out …………,,,,,
‘Control to Agent Vinai. Control to Agent Vinai. You may have got there too late.’
Thoroughly enjoyable preview Bath! Looking forward to a relatively stress free and hopefully even enjoyable match.
I would likely be in the minority (of one? 🙂 )
but I think given that we ought to give as much of a chance as possible to go through to the CL semis, we should rest in the weekend as many of our preferred starting eleven players for the midweek match. My starting line up against Brentford would be
Raya
White Saliba Kiwior Tierney
Nwaneri Jorginho Zinchenko
Sterling Merino Trossard
If Neto had any kind of experience playing with our back line I would have been tempted to start even him. 🙂
Then bring Saka, Martinelli, Rice and MLS for the last 20-30 minutes.
I understand that the league is still a mathematical possibility, and it’s also important to cement the second position, but players like Jorginho-Zinchenko-Tierney-Trossard are experienced enough and with enough quality to play their roles to manage a home win against a mid-table team.
Come on Arsenal!
Great job, thanks Bath !
Hard to predict the team but I’m actually exactly with Faustus – and would rest Rice. It is difficult with that second place to hang onto but those players ought to be able to cope for 45-60. That team selection would be quite small and would need a tweak to how we play – not least at corners. Not entirely sure who would take them. Anyway, any win and no injuries will do nicely.
A well considered preview Bath.
Brentford can be tough nut to crack, they have a good away record and have had the benefit of a week to prepare. Team selection is very tricky- countering Mikel’s desire to play his strongest team available v the need to rest vital players before the match next Wednesday. The team you suggest Bath seems most logical – your guess is probably better than mine. A tight game with the revered 1-0 to the Arsenal will be quite ok.
COYRRR
Ugandan Gooners on a level of their own:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0q8e0rqmmo
Excellent preview, Bath. These games are usually ugly with the opposition pulling out all the dark arts which, as we know, Arsenal invented way back in September 2024 against C115y, in ever more desperate attempts to stay in the game. In Wissa and Mbeumo they have two very sharp knives indeed.
I’d be happy with a 1-0 win today with no injuries and no ludicrously contrived refereeing decisions.
Bennie White left at home. Continuing injury problems? We don’t do well with TP5 at RB.
Raya
Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney
Jorginho, Rice, Zinchenko
Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard
Bench: Neto, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Henry-Francis, Odegaard, Saka, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Merino.
What BtM said about Partey playing at right back.
Excellent preview, a belated thanks Bath
Not a bad first half although we started like a scratch side.
Would have been nice to see KT3 on the scoresheet
I expect a few changes 2nd half
Forest losing at home was handy, never thought I’d write
that at the beginning of the season!
Re: Ned @15. Maybe it ought to be “Visit Uganda” then? That would surely be an improvement over the other one.
It’s Thomas!
If it stays like this it will be 12 draws this season.
Good performance but the amount of play we had, no way should we be drawing that game.
SP@24. True. But minds elsewhere, on the pitch and in the stands.
I’m just worried that we lose 2nd place.
SP@26: It is a legitimate worry. And not just because of the prize money.
I hear your pain SP but we have Southampton and Ipswich to play and three home games and a free hit at Liverpool. We will be alright . Arteta rotated well today but personally I never want to see Xonchrnko in an Arsenal shirt again. He sulked through the game, berated Nwaneri for trying to control a ball he wanted in the fight wing and was very ineffective .
Saliba was majestic and Rice gave his usual 300% . Brentford are a very anodyne side made up of very boring players most of whom no one can remember . They should have been reduced to 10 after Norgaard fouled Martinelli. MLS was sent off for much less . Ironically we finished with 10 . O
Xonchrnko Is Zinchenko – autocorrect has butchered him but he deserved punishment .
Arteta saying Partey picked up an injury:
>>>>>>>