Brentford vs Arsenal odds and betting statistics
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Brentford vs Arsenal match preview
It’s 30-years since the most-recent of Arsenal’s two League Cup triumphs, so will this be the start of a triumphant campaign for the Gunners?
Safe to say, Mikel Arteta’s men are not firing on all cylinders just yet, despite actually being unbeaten in all competition, most-recently held to a 2-2 draw by fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Just four days earlier, they’d began their Champions League campaign with a resounding 4-0 drubbing of PSV Eindhoven and, given European and domestic commitment, the League Cup may be low on the priority list.
However, this young team needs to win something, as they aim to establish themselves as a serious force, so defeat in this very challenging tie would be a major disappointment.
Brentford meantime put in, possibly, the worst showing of their time in the Premier League on Saturday, beaten 3-1 by Everton at home.
Concerning signs for Thomas Frank’s team, who’ve only won once in the Premier League so far, this coming against rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage in mid-August.
Nevertheless, in the subsequent shootout, the League Two side missed all three spot-kicks, while Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Keane Lewis-Potter all held their nerve from 12 yards at Rodney Parade.
Amazingly, Arsenal have only ever won two of eight visits to Brentford, these victories coming in 1947 and 12 months ago, with Gabriel Jesus, William Saliba and Fábio Vieira on target in the latter.
So, will the Gunners repeat that victory at the Brentford Community Stadium or can the Bees spring a surprise?
Brentford team news
The Bees are without Ben Mee, Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, Shandon Baptiste, Mikkel Damsgaard and now Kevin Schade, the latter ruled out for the next few months, after sustaining an injury during Saturday’s warm-up.
Due to the striker shortage, Neal Maupay will start for the first time since returning on loan, aiming to add to his two career goals against Arsenal.
Ellery Balcombe was in goal in the previous round at Newport, but usual back-up Thomas Strakosha is likely to be donning the gloves this time.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Strakosha; Roerslev, Ajer, Jørgensen, Hickey; Nørgaard, Onyeka, Jensen; Mbuemo, Lewis-Potter, Wissa.
Arsenal team news
Jurriën Timber, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are all sidelined, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka won’t feature either, after sustaining injuries during Sunday’s North London Derby.
David Raya is eligible to play, despite being on loan from Brentford, but Aaron Ramsdale is set to start this time, after the Spaniard got the nod in Arsenal’s last three matches.
Cédric Soares, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior will all come into defence, while Emile Smith Rowe is set to start a senior club game for the first time since 16 May 2022, a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, 499 days ago.
In attack, Eddie Nketiah has scored nine goals in ten Carabao Cup appearances, so can he further improve that ratio?
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Cédric, Saliba, Kiwior, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Fábio Vieira, Havertz; Nelson, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.
Carabao Cup third round results & fixtures
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