Arsenal will be looking to continue their sensational run of form in the Premier League when they host Brentford in the late Saturday afternoon kick-off.
A thumping 6-0 win over Sheffield United earlier in the week took the Gunners’ league-winning sequence to seven games, and they will be hoping to extend that to eight against the Bees.
More pertinently, three points will see Arsenal move to the top of the Premier League with Manchester City and Liverpool duelling it out on Sunday afternoon.
Brentford, on the other hand, arrested a mini slump last weekend with a creditable 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea.
Nevertheless, a result is still pressing for Thomas Frank’s charges who occupy 15th spot in the table, just six points above the dreaded relegation zone.
But how will things unfold at the Emirates? I have plunged into the betting markets and unearthed a couple of value tips for you to pore over ahead of kick-off.
Arsenal to keep their foot firmly on the gas
It has been an incredible 2024 so far for the Gunners. Bar the blemish in the first leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie against Porto, Arsenal have been unrelenting in the Premier League.
In seven league games, Arsenal have gone goal crazy, racked up 31 goals, conceding a meagre three.
Indeed, the North London outfit have eclipsed their previous record (29) set in 1931 of scoring the most goals in their first seven games of the calendar year.
The Gunners faithful have witnessed liquid football over the past couple of months and their side has the bit between their teeth.
Brentford, on the other hand, will be glancing nervously over their shoulders, and while they took 16 points from their first 11 league games
this term at an average of 1.5 per game, they have tailed off, gaining just 10 from their last 16 outings at an average of 0.6 per game.
Arsenal will relish another London derby and their record against Brentford is impressive, losing just one of their past 10 meetings in all competitions (W7, D2).
I can’t envisage Arsenal slipping up, and this could be a comfortable 90 minutes for them. Rather than plump on the Correct Score line, I’ve gone for the Winning Margin market, and Paddy Power has stumped up odds of 4/1 for the Gunners to win by three goals.
Kai Havertz to step up to the plate once again
Question marks persisted over Kai Havertz earlier in the campaign, but he has answered his critics with aplomb of late.
With five goal involvements (three goals and two assists) from his last three appearances, the German striker has managed more than he did in his previous 32 league games combined (four goals and one assist).
Havertz appears to have a new-found confidence, and he has adjusted well to being deployed as a false nine.
He could well get ample chances, especially with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli likely to make driving runs at the heart of the Brentford defence.
To round things off, I have been bolder and gone with Havertz to grab a double, which is available at an enticing 8/1 with bet365.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/xlmedia/95b7b397-ec07-49be-9275-53f658255162.jpeg)
