ARSENAL are facing Brentford RIGHT NOW knowing they can return to the top of the Premier League table
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard has returned to the starting line-up, while Aaron Ramsdale has reclaimed his spot in between the sticks with David Raya ineligible.
Manchester City and Liverpool played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in today's early match.
- Kick-off: 5.30pm
- TV channel/ live stream: TNT Sports 1
- Brentford XI: Flekken, Ajer, Mee, Pinnock, Janelt, Onyeka, Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Mbeumo, Ghoddos, Wissa
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Trossard, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
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By Sam Dymond
First half facts and figures
Arsenal have been on top in West London, but have been unable to find a way through Brentford.
However, they have also stopped the opposition from scoring a first half goal for the ninth time in 13 games this season – only Crystal Palace have done so more this season (10).
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By Sam Dymond
Half-time – Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
It's goalless at the break at the Gtech, and there's not too much to report.
An Arsenal goal shortly before half-time was ruled out following a VAR check for offside against scorer Leandro Trossard, who also sent a close range header over earlier in the game.
On his return to the Gunners side, Aaron Ramsdale has looked nervous, and was fortunate not to concede after giving up possession from his own goal-kick.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
45+3. In the last act of the first half, Odegaard attempts to acrobatically flick in a Zinchenko cross with his backheel.
It would have been sensational had it found the net, but instead it was nowhere near and probably would have been best for Tomiyasu, who was charging in behind.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal – Ajer yellow card
45. Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer is the first player to go into the book, cautioned for booting the ball away after being penalised for a foul five yards outside his own penalty area.
Meanwhile, there will be three minutes of time added on.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
43. Trossard scores! And Arsenal lead!
Or do they?!
The Belgian is on the spot to nod home from close range after Flekken had pushed up Jesus' initial header, but there is a VAR check ongoing to see whether the scorer was offside.
Eventually, the word comes through to Tim Robinson that Trossard did have his left foot marginally ahead of Jesus when the first attempt was made, and the goal is ruled out.
A let off for Brentford.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
41. At the opposite end, Mark Flekken doesn't look too clever either.
The Dutch custodian makes heavy weather of Jesus' looping shot from the edge of the box to gift Brentford a corner.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
39. The ironic thing is that Ramsdale blunder of a throw (which gets worse with every replay) inexplicably led to a blistering Arsenal counter attack that looked so threatening until Saka stood on the ball.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
37. Ramsdale makes a mess of a throw out, once again getting away with his latest mishap.
However, this nervous showing won't be doing his case for a permanent recall any good, and it's probably time for his dad to switch his phone off.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
35. Ten minutes until half-time, and Arsenal are still yet to test Mark Flekken despite almost 70% of possession and five attempts at goal.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
33. More corner shenanigans, this time involving Brentford.
Bryan Mbeumo and Saman Ghoddos are spoken to by Tim Robinson, who explains that they both cannot be off the pitch at the same time as they attempt to keep Arsenal guessing as to who was going to deliver the set-piece.
In the end, it didn't matter as it came to nothing.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
31. An unorthodox effort from Gabriel, who meets Saka's near post corner with his back and steers the ball into the side netting.
I suppose they all count if they go in – until VAR gets involved, anyway.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
29. Sharp defending from Pinnock blocks Jesus' turn and shot inside the penalty area.
Nevertheless, it's probably the first time that Arsenal have found space as an attacking unit, and exposed Brentford's backline.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
27. This Brentford defence is more crowded than the high street on Black Friday.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
25. Trossard heads over!
There's an argument to be made that the Belgian should have done better considering he was ten yards out and unmarked.
However, Zinchenko's cross was fizzed in with such pace that Trossard did well to twist in the air to connect fully with the cross.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
23. Norgaard goes for goal from a long way out, but his wayward effort only draws cries of derision from the away support.
The Dane unable as of yet to replicate his heroics from this fixture two years ago.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
21. Zincheko and Jesus link up neatly on the left with the latter trying his luck when cutting inside on to his right foot.
Before he can contemplate a shot at goal, however, Onyeka bursts back to take the ball off the toes of the Brazilian.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
19. Brentford are dropping deep in compact fashion whenever Arsenal are in possession.
It's a long time for any team to play like this without the ball, but then again the Bees are so well-drilled under Thomas Frank.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
17. Mee comes to the home side's rescue once more.
The former Burnley defender slides in impeccably to cut out Odegaard's through ball for Saka.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
15. This time it's Trossard's turn to take his time with a corner.
Once again, the Brentford fans are not amused and neither is referee Tim Robinson.
He calls over captain Martin Odegaard to explain that further delaying tactics will not be tolerated.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
13. "You're just a s**t David Raya!" sing the home fans.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
12. Aaron Ramsdale watch!
The Arsenal goalkeeper takes a short goalkick to Gabriel, and then receives it straight back.
Considering his choices, the Gunners stopper slips and allows Wissa to nick ball off him.
A goal looks a certainty when it's square to Mbeumo, but Rice saves his goalkeeper's blushes by somehow getting back to clear off the line.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
10. Saka takes an age with the game's first corner – much to the annoyance of the home fans.
Eventually, it's swung to the near post to little effect, but the forwardgets another go when it's headed back to him.
This time he finds Trossard in space on the edge of the box, only for the Belgian to sweep well over the crossbar.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
8. Tomiyasu tries to clear the Brentford defence with a long throw intended for Odegaard's run.
The right-back was reckoning without the towering frame of Mee, however, and sees his delivery headed clear.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
6. The visitors push forward again, but Jesus is slow to get himself back onside and is subsequently flagged when laying off to Odegaard.
I'm not sure the Gunners captain is too impressed with his striker's casual effort there.
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By Sam Dymond
Brentford 0-0 Arsenal
4. A half-chance for Martinelli comes and goes – although the Brazilian may well have been offside.
An Odegaard free-kick from the left catches a static Brentford defence cold, allowing the winger to steal in and attempt a back header over Flekken.
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