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Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders face fellow set-piece masters Brentford at the Emirates Stadium
Luke BakerWednesday 03 December 2025 18:12 GMTComments
Close'A vital game' - Arteta urges fans to show 'animal' spirit vs BrentfordPremier League leaders Arsenal host Brentford tonight in a battle of set-piece masters at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
Mikel Arteta’s men have looked secure at the top of the table but dropped valuable points in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea last time out, despite the Blues having Moises Caicedo sent off late in the first half.
Brentford are fresh from a 3-1 win over relegation candidates Burnley, with striker Igor Thiago making history for the club as the quickest player to reach 10 goals in one campaign, needing just 13 games.
The Bees will need Thiago to be on the same top form at the Emirates tonight, particularly with the Gunners expected to be without defensive stalwart William Saliba.
Follow all the action live from the Emirates here:
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Arsenal v Brentford live
- Arsenal host Brentford in London derby | Kick off at 7.30pm, live on Sky Sports
- Gunners dropped points against 10-man Chelsea last time out
- Set-piece specialists clash as Brentford visit Emirates
Team news upcoming
We’re only a couple of minutes away from finding out tonight’s team news. How many changes will Mikel Arteta make?
Luke Baker3 December 2025 18:12Martin Odegaard reveals Arsenal delight at Noni Madueke goal
Noni Madueke got his first goal for Arsenal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week. In his programme notes ahead of tonight’s game, Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard has revealed how delighted the squad were for the winger.
“Everyone was so pleased for Noni to get his first goal for us,” writes Odegaard. “I’ve got to know him really well over the past few weeks as we were doing our rehab together.
“We had a very similar injury, so we’ve spent a lot of time together in the gym and around the training ground. I’ve seen how hard he’s worked to come back as soon and as strong as possible.
“His goal last Wednesday was massive for him, and well deserved. He brings a lot of energy to the team with a great sense of humour and always comes in with a smile on his face.
“He’s always working hard, just a top guy to have in the dressing room. He brings that energy and you can see that on the pitch as well.
“The way he plays he always wants to go forward, to take the ball and make things happen. He’s a great guy and a quality player.”
(PA Wire)Luke Baker3 December 2025 18:06Emirates Stadium ready for Arsenal v Brentford
The Emirates looking in fine fettle today as it gears up for this evening’s match
(Action Images via Reuters)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Luke Baker3 December 2025 17:54Brentford pioneered a new approach to set-pieces but Arsenal have perfected it
In Arsenal’s preparations for tonight’s match, set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has especially been focusing on how to block Brentford’s most aerially decisive players – namely, Sepp van den Berg – from “accessing key zones”.
Jover’s much-discussed work isn’t so much about delivery routines as attempting to coordinate what actually happens in the box; the smaller details that define the finer margins.
None of this will be any secret to Brentford, since they essentially came up with it all – at least in terms of applying new science to a traditionalist football approach.
There is more to it than the admittedly impressive rigour of Tony Pulis. Along those lines, Brentford generally go about their business in a modest way, but the manner in which Premier League rivals get praise for something they pioneered has irked certain figures at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Read the full piece from Miguel Delaney:
Brentford pioneered a new approach to set-pieces but Arsenal have perfected it
The Bees were one of the earliest clubs to appoint a specialist set-piece coach and Mikel Arteta’s side built on that to create a ‘winning edge’Luke Baker3 December 2025 17:45Last time out: Mikel Arteta heaps praise on Arsenal after an ‘immensely difficult’ week
Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal side at the end of an “immensely difficult” week after they drew 1-1 with 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Gunners started a Premier League match with neither William Saliba nor Gabriel in defence for the first time this season, Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres only fit enough for the bench and Leandro Trossard injured, they had to come from a goal down to take a point that put them five clear at the top of the table.
The sending-off of Moises Caicedo in the first half for a studs-up tackle on the ankle of Mikel Merino seemed to leave the match there for the taking, but after Trevoh Chalobah headed Arsenal in front, there was a sense of relief that the leaders had survived with a point thanks to Merino’s leveller.
Despite playing against 10 men for almost an hour, Arteta reflected instead on what his side had achieved in the previous seven days after thrashing Tottenham in the north London derby and the Champions League win over Bayern Munich:
Mikel Arteta heaps praise on Arsenal after an ‘immensely difficult’ week
The Gunners drew with 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge having thumped Tottenham and beaten Bayern MunichLuke Baker3 December 2025 17:36Predicted line-ups
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice, Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze
Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Ajer, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Henderson, Damsgaard, Ouattara, Thiago
Flo Clifford3 December 2025 17:30Team news
Arsenal looked troubled in defence without William Saliba against Chelsea, with the Frenchman ruled out after picking up a knock in training, and he appears unlikely to be fit to play today.
Gabriel, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz remain out of action for the hosts, while the Bees are missing long-term absentees Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva, and cannot field Reiss Nelson against his parent club.
Riccardo Calafiori is one yellow card away from a one-match suspension so Arteta may not risk playing him, opening the door to Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Flo Clifford3 December 2025 17:20How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event and streaming service Sky Go. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Flo Clifford3 December 2025 17:15When is Arsenal v Brentford?
Arsenal host Brentford at the Emirates on Wednesday 3 December, with kick-off at 7.30pm.
Flo Clifford3 December 2025 17:10Arsenal v Brentford
Premier League leaders Arsenal have another London derby on their hands as they welcome Brentford to the Emirates Stadium just three days after battling to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
The Gunners will rue two points dropped against the Blues as they failed to make their numerical advantage count at Stamford Bridge after Moises Caicedo was sent off.
A Mikel Merino header earned Arsenal a point but rather than dominating at set-pieces as normal, they conceded a goal in the same manner, and will need to be sharper against fellow set-piece specialists Brentford.
Meanwhile Keith Andrews’ Bees put three past Burnley in a chaotic 3-1 victory, with Brazil’s Igor Thiago making history for the club as the quickest player to reach 10 goals in one campaign, needing just 13 games. But they’ll have their work cut out at the Emirates, facing the league’s top side having lost five of their six top-flight away games this season.
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