Premier League betting returns on Friday, with Arsenal heading to West London to face EPL new boys Brentford, whose incredible club revamp culminated in promotion to the top flight at the end of last season.
Following a trend set by the likes of Norwich, Leeds, and Sheffield United in recent years, Brentford are expected to come out firing in the top flight and not change the front-foot style that they played in the Championship, meaning Arsenal's youthful squad will get a strong test to begin the new season.
Can the Bees pick up a result in their Premier League debut? Read on for our Arsenal vs. Brentford tips and predictions.
Arsenal vs Brentford game info
• Location: Brentford Community Stadium, Brentford, England
• Date: Friday, August 13, 2021
• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• TV: DAZN, NBCSN
Arsenal vs Brentford betting tips
- Draw (+275)
- Both teams to score (-134)
Read on for complete analysis
Arsenal vs Brentford match odds
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Arsenal vs Brentford betting preview
Weather
It will be a sunny Friday in West London, with no rain in the forecast as Arsenal and Brentford meet to begin the new season. Temperatures are expected around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff, with some clouds.
Injuries
Arsenal: Rob Holding (Questionable), Thomas Partey (Out), Eddie Nketiah (Out), Gabriel Magalhaes (Out), Gabriel Martinelli (Out).
Brentford: Ivan Toney (Probable), Josh Dasilva (Out).
Arsenal vs Brentford predictions
Side pick
It's now or never for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, after back-to-back eighth-place finishes. Despite not qualifying for any competition in Europe, the Gunners have spent well this summer and appear to have solidified their midfield and backline to complement what is a talented, if not inconsistent, attack.
However, key figures in both the midfield and defense will be missing for this one, as Thomas Partey — who will be crucial should Arteta's Arsenal make a considerable jump this season — is out for several weeks, while center-back Gabriel had to bow out of the Olympics with a knee injury and has not yet recovered. As a result, new signings Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ben White should be thrown right into the starting lineup (White was likely to start regardless).
While White is classy on the ball and tremendously talented, he lacks physicality and Arsenal will miss Gabriel against Brentford's Ivan Toney. Similarly, though Lokonga has been solid in Arsenal's preseason and appears ready to seamlessly adapt to the Premier League, Partey would have been vital against a Brentford side that want to control the ball and cycle possession in the midfield.
Making their Premier League debut, at home, against a weakened Arsenal team is a perfect setup for a feisty Brentford side. This is a club that, even over the last two years when they were among the Championship elite, thrived off emotion and support. They will get both in bunches in front of their home supporters on Friday.
The end of Brentford's campaign may see relegation, but they'll begin this season with a memorable draw and a point in their first game in the top flight.
PICK: Draw (+275)
Both teams to score
Brentford have become a bit of a favorite among soccer-viewing-hipsters in recent years for a number of reasons, including their use of analytics and an endlessly charismatic manager, but none of that would matter if they weren't entertaining. Luckily, they are incredibly so and have been for several seasons despite having their best attackers regularly poached by bigger clubs prior to this summer. As Brentford's promotion push reached its limit, in back-to-back third-place finishes, they scored 159 goals over two seasons to lead the Championship in both years.
The Bees are an absolute joy to watch as they pass out of the back regularly, rapidly cycle the ball when in possession, and push their midfielders and outside backs high up the pitch. Their aggression all funnels toward striker Ivan Toney, who seamlessly made the step up to the second division last season, scoring 31 goals and adding 10 assists, and looks primed to take another step up this season. Brentford won't waver in their approach, which should mean some entertaining games and attacking soccer — but it will also see them defensively susceptible.
That will be the case on Friday, as Brentford's untested Premier League backline will be strained as none of their three first-choice center-backs, Pontus Jansson, Kristoffer Ajer, or Ethan Pinnock, are particularly quick. While questions do hang over the Gunners' attack, there is no questioning the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka, or Nicolas Pepe.
Brentford will likely endear themselves to soccer fans previously unfamiliar on Friday and attack with intent against Arsenal. However, Arsenal will certainly strike back, with both teams finding the back of the net.
PICK: Both teams to score (-134)
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