And so to the Stadium of Stone on Saturday, when Brentford are our visitors as late afternoon turns to early evening and twilight brings the promise and menace of the night (OK! For a 5.30 kick-off).
Our home league record against the Bees is surprisingly flat. Although we’ve lost only once, in 1938, we have only two wins in the seven games, a 2-1 in February 2022 when Saka and Smith Rowe scored (the lesser spotted ESR has only scored one other goal since) and a 2-0 in May 1939 when Ted Drake and Alfred Kirchen scored. Both, like Eddie Hapgood and ‘Gentleman Jack’ Crayston, were playing what would be their final league games for the club as the storm clouds of war gathered.
A side note to that game is that it was filmed for use in the movie version of the best-selling caper whodunnit, ’The Arsenal Stadium Mystery’. Brentford played in white shirts and black shorts, the colours of The Trojans, Arsenal’s fictitious opponents in Leonard Gribble’s original story, which had been serialised in the Daily Express. Presumably, Brentford would not have played in their customary red and white stripes anyway because of the colour clash.
The mystery revolves around the death of a Trojan player during a charity game at Highbury. Cliff Bastin and Hapgood had cameos, but only manager George Allison got a (small) speaking part. Drake’s goal was shown in the film making the score ‘one-nil to the Arsenal’, giving Allison the line ‘And that’s how we like it.’
You can watch the film here if you have a mind or just can’t be arsed with the rest of this preview.
In the actual league match, Drake’s goal was the second, near the end of the game. Kirchen’s opener was controversial. His shot hit the bar, bounced down to the ground and spun back into the field of play. To the fury of Brentford’s players, the referee adjudged the ball to have crossed the line and whistled a goal. Where was VAR when you needed it? Thankfully, still three-quarters of a century away.
The opposition
Unlike us, Brentford comes into this Saturday’s game on a poor run of form. Two wins in their past 15 games have dropped them to 15th in the league, six points clear of the relegation zone. Last weekend, they drew at home with the mob from the Bus Stop, having been behind and then ahead. Holding leads is a problem; Brentford has dropped more points, 28, from winning positions this season than any other team in the league.
That points to the Bees’ potency and porosity, which makes the game another potential banana skin. To be sure, Arteta has hit on a simple solution to avoiding banana skins: scoring five or six. Yet Thomas Frank and Brentford are a cut above hapless Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United. We can expect stiffer resistance than that offered at Bramall Lane on Monday evening, even if, in the end, one trusts, it will prove just as futile.
Frank has settled on a 3-5-2 set-up after chopping and changing his formation in the first half of the season. His team plays an intense, high-pressing game but without dominating possession. It averages 35% this season, the eighth lowest in the league.
David Raya’s replacement, Mark Flekken, will be between the sticks. Frank’s defence is missing Ben Mee, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Ethan Pinnock due to injury. Thus, the back three will likely be Denmark international Mathias Jørgensen, who goes by the name Zanka, Ireland international Nathan Collins, and Norway international Kristoffer Ajer.
Look for the five across the middle to comprise wing-backs Sergio Reguilon, the Spaniard on temporary day release from the Marshlands as part of his rehabilitation back into society, and talented young Dane Mads Roerslev, outside of fellow Dane and club captain Christian Nørgaard, Nigerian international Frank ONyeka and the former German U-21 international Vitaly Janelt. Yet another Danish international, Mathias Jensen, will be an option from the bench when Frank finds his starting midfielders stymied by Rice and Ødegaard.
Up front, it will be Ivan Toney, possibly to be seen next season in a shirt of a different arrangement of red and white (although I wouldn’t bet on it), alongside DR Congo international Yoane Wissa. French-born Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo, top scorer this season, and summer signing Kevin Shade are out with injury. Unfortunately, the grody Neal Maupay is fit and available.
Toney and Wissa are a threat. Toney is one of the few to give Saliba as good as he gets. Stifling the supply to the Bees’ frontmen will be crucial. Yet, one of Arteta’s less heralded tactical successes this season has been to cut the opposition’s main men out of the play. Bowen barely had a kick against us but scored a hat trick in his next game; Guimaraes and Gordon were anonymous for the Barcodes, ditto Fernandes for the Red Mancs.
Toney is also a threat at set-pieces. With Ramsdale in goal because Raya is inelligble against his parent club, Brentford wll likely try to engineer opportunities to test the theory that the Englishman’s cross catching is inferior to the Spaniard’s. We have conceded fewer free kicks than any other Premier League side this season. That discipline will need to be to the fore against an opponent that has shown twice before against us this season its willingness to scrap even in a losing cause.
The Arsenal
Picking the team is an unusual challenge compared to the stability of selection in recent games. We must consider this game and Tuesday’s Champions League second leg. Thus, I think Jesús starts against Brentford but comes off after an hour to rest for a start against Porto. Partey starts on the bench in both games but will get minutes in both. Jorghino will step down to make room for Havertz. This assumes Saka and Martinelli pass late fitness tests. Vieira and Trossard, respectively, are likely replacements if they do not, though some will hope for ESR. Thus:
Ramsdale
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Kiwior
Ødegaard – Rice – Havertz
Saka – Jesús – Martinelli
There is no need to rehearse our record-breaking AD (™21CG) run of seven wins. The team’s energetic, intricate attacking has been a delight, but its goal-scoring is an outlier. Our xG for the seven games in which we have scored 31 goals was 19. As for our defence, three goals conceded when the xGA was barely two. What can one say? Means will reassert themselves at some point, but even if they do, this team, emerging like a butterfly from its chrysalis, should still be playing winning football.
Every game is a must-win from here on in. Arteta will keep the team focused on Brentford and on dropping another three points in the poke, to use BtM’s argot. Do that, and we will be top, at least until Sunday, possibly longer, depending on the result at Anfield.
Enjoy the game ‘holics, near and far.
First!
(The real bt8 is occupied watching The Arsenal Stadium Mystery.)
I always look forward to your previews Ned and always learn a lot. Strangely my first viewing of the Arsenal Stadium Mystery was in the wee small hours on a cable channel in New York when jet lag prevented sleep. To be fair it got me off to sleep pdq.
I’m now back in deepest Kent after my trip to the North West which took in a tour of Anfield . I shall be there tomorrow night and while I’d counsel a degree of caution I’m sure we will eventually overrun them . I suspect he may retain Jorginho and might start Jesus wide but he has a lot of options .
The vibes from Anfield were pointing to a draw. That could see us top on Sunday night . COYG
Thanks, Ned – your usual informative, easy to read style 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Since Declan said in the paper “we can’t expect to score 4 or 5 every week” we’ve scored 5 and 6 ! At least the stadium won’t empty tomorrow if we bang in another first half hatful.
Ned knows.
Here we are 5 points worse off than last season but plus 45 goals to plus 37. In 2023 we went WWDDDLWWLLW.
In 2024 we are really building up a head of steam. Let’s jump out of the starting blocks and fly into Brentford.
The ability to rest key players in the 2nd half of games lately cannot be under estimated. It also gives valuable minutes to Viera and Partey and the likes.
Rams will be up for this and Toney can only dream to be a Gunner.
With no ounce of arrogance I predict another tonking 2 nil win.
Super preview Ned! The reference to The Arsenal Stadium Mystery movie reminds me of Robert Bresson, speaking about cinema: “Hide the ideas, but so that people find them. The most important will be the most hidden”. But I don’t know exactly why. 🙂
Looking at that Brentford lineup one almost expects Nicky Bendtner to pop up as a substitute striker. Denmark has produced some talented footballers over the years, Laurdrup probably the most well-known. Bendy was such a waste… Nørgaard and Jensen are technically quite good.
Brentford and Frank have done surprisingly well since their promotion, and gave us a lot of trouble. Even though our recent respective forms indicate that on paper this should be less of a worry, I am sure none of the players will come to the match with any complacency. Another fast and furious start is what we will need.
Agree with your team. Hopefully Tomi and Zinchenko are back on the bench at least.
Come on Arsenal!
Cheers, Ned. Nice preview.
Brentford are a wounded animal. Few things are more dangerous than wounded animals (predator or prey). We must be professional, ruthless, and merciless.
We have to crash onto the depleted Brentford back row with the ferocity of high tide waves crashing onto the rocks at Big Sur.
Just win, baby.
MCMBD
Top preview Ned, informative as ever. Brentford are a solid side, they have generally been tough to break down since their promotion a few years back. Even though they have regressed a fair bit this season (partly down to being Toney-less until recently) I would be flabbergasted if they went down.
Thomas Frank comes across as a likeable chap and I would say he has ensured the bees have been a worthy addition to the league. I believe mbeumo may be on the bench at least; he’s a very good player. Whilst I am not a huge fan of Toney, he has the tools to make life very awkward for us. Last year he caused Saliba more problems than probably any striker bar haaland, even if his goal should’ve been chalked off. We will have to be aggressive in all the duels as Arteta is always hammering into the players.
Needless to say, it’s a must win but so is next Tuesday so we may not see quite the same level of intensity as we’ve become accustomed to over the last few weeks. That will make the team selection interesting. And we all hope Ramsdale gets a good reception and plays well in what is likely to be his last game for us. 2-0 to the Arse seems a sensible prediction….
Thanks Ned, eminently readable preview. 3 points is the only goal, though talking of goals I expect us to stick several past this lot. Their attack is good,I am glad Mbeumo is out as he is a fair player I think and we will need to keep a tight rein on Toney, don’t let him gambol freely around the pitch (hahaha, I am laughing at my own poor taste joke, not sure that’s a good sign).
Best of luck to Rammy, no doubt he will get the piss taken again by the Brentford supporters, the best answer is a clean sheet.
Speaking of Danish players, best wishes to Kristoffer Olsson, Arsenal youth player, now in urgent care for blood clot in brain. Wishing a complete and speedy recovery
https://theathletic.com/5323538/2024/03/07/kristoffer-olsson-arsenal-health/?source=user_shared_article
Thanks Ned,
Brentford? No bovver although Toney will look to impress and may nick one. I’m thinking 3-1, Havertz to score.
UTA.
Cheers Ned. I don’t know what to think about banana skins anymore after Monday, so is this a potential one or another walk in the park (kickabout with the boys?)?
Bt8 @ 1. This isn’t the droid I was looking for.
Doctor @ 9: he may be playing in Denmark, but he’s Swedish, right?
Hope the recovery progresses well from there.
I’m with Noosa on the prediction.
And England didn’t even make it to tea on the third day. Hope they enjoyed the scenery though…
A most enjoyable and informative preview, Ned, and I really must get round to watching that film! The team have been on such a domineering and productive roll since Dubai and has been so enjoyable to watch that I now find myself having an occasional pre-match tremble with trepidation that it’s all going to come to a crashing end. Just not yet, please. A more ‘normal’ 2-0 victory might be therapeutic in resetting both expectations and fears.
Just win Arsenal.
Wonderful to see the Arsenal right bang in the Zone of Interest for a 2nd consecutive year. Much credit for The Holdovers of title-leading form must go to Maestro Arteta’s sustained drive and focus on outstanding game strategy. Absent that, and the dedication to technical excellence of his squad, we could quite easily be contemplating the Anatomy of a Fall to mid-table mediocrity in the style of Pochetino’s Poor Things at the Bus Stop in Fulham. In Past Lives we might all have found the prospect of Silent Stan endorsing funds for squad strengthening to be nothing more than an American Fiction. However, in recent times he’s been more Ken than Barbie and as a consequence, I’m confident that by the time the Flower Moon sets over the West Stand tonight, Arsenal will be Bee Killers and their return to League leadership will resonate with a big bang of Oppenheimer proportions.
Three points for the Gunners, a draw at Anfield and deserved recognition of Sandra Huller’s excellence in both of her movies this year will leave me feeling more content than Oscar himself on Sunday night.
Inspiring and informative piece, Ned for which many thanks.
Thanks Ned for your excellent preview.
Re: Lonestar, “We have to crash onto the depleted Brentford back row with the ferocity of high tide waves crashing onto the rocks at Big Sur.”
I liked that imagery. If we do as you say we should do okay. 😎
I’m looking forward to being again able to accept the offer of wine on the train in about an hour or so…
Re: BtM @16 That is quite the melange of cinematic references in the vein of one of your efforts from years past. 👍🏼
I hope that all your wishes come true BtM, though I think only the first is likely. Perhaps if Kai knocks in a couple of goals that will provide our German friends some consolation for Sandra and Klippity’s likely defeats.
I think that’s the most likely outcome there, Matt!
Applause, applause for BtM’s cinematic references.
Just time to enjoy a resounding win today before Tuesday when the Snakes In A Plane arrive from Portugal.
Thanks, all, for the kind words. Three-one or 2-0 sounds about right.
BtM@16: 👏👏👏
Thanks Ned for your normal most informative preview. Let’s keep the focus strong and further increase our points tally and goal difference. I’ll join in others going for a 3-1 victory.
COYRRR
Rammy
Ben Saliba Gabi Kiwior
Rice Jorginho
Saka Ode Leo
Kai
Gabi M didn’t make it with his cut foot according to MA.
Zin back on the bench, along with Hain, Cedric, Eddie, ESR, Jesus, Vieira, Nelson, Partey
3-1 is looking an excellent shout after that Rammy. If we can get there. I’m looking for a big second half from Aaron.
Yeah, but we are playing well so stick in a couple second half
Much better from Rammy!
Get in Kai!
Cheers Ned, excellent historical preview. I love reading these pieces.
Sorry for being late.
Come on you Kai!
COYG
Rammy tapping his heart at the end, me too,thank fuck for those 3 points
Lads showed great heart.
That was won ugly, but three points dug out from deep, as top teams do.
The entire Brentford team seemed to have been infected with a dose of Maupay mouth.
Apart from the goal, Rammy did OK, I thought, and the back four stood up well to the barrage of up and unders.
60 million down the drain
Kai Havertz scores again …
And he chose a pretty good time to do it too!
Aaron made two huge saves that could have saved our title push.
Loads of wankers on BBC complaining Kai should’ve been sent off for diving. Any merit in this?
Rammy wants an EPL winners medal
All the wankers need to know is we are top of the league!
SP@35: Pundits piling on as we have gone top. They should be asking why we didn’t get at least three penalties.
And let’s not forget Bennie with the assist for both goals.
SP – Kai went down fairly easily but there was no way that should be called for diving.
And speaking of Kai, that’s twice he’s had late goals against Brentford for wins and moving us to the top of the league!
Ben White is on on attacking rampage, following up his goal against Sheffield United with two assists today.
A couple of old fashioned goals today, I could see Ray Kennedy / John Radford nodding them in
>>>>>>>