2025/26 Premier League MW26 Brentford vs. Arsenal Preview: Can the Gunners continue their winning run against the Bees? February 12, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

Brentford welcome Arsenal to the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday night (8:00 PM GMT) in a pivotal Matchweek 26 clash of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

Match Overview

League leaders Arsenal travel across London holding a three-point advantage over Manchester City with 12 matches remaining. Mikel Arteta's side have won four straight games in all competitions and look increasingly assured at both ends of the pitch.

Brentford, meanwhile, are enjoying one of their best spells of the campaign. Back-to-back away victories over Aston Villa and Newcastle United have reinforced their European ambitions and underlined their growing confidence against top opposition.

Pre-Match Analysis

Team Form and Momentum

Across the last 10 Premier League matches, Brentford have collected 20 points, while Arsenal have picked up 23 - the two highest returns in the division during that span.

Brentford's thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle highlighted their cutting edge in transition, while their gritty 1-0 triumph at Aston Villa - achieved with 10 men - was widely praised as a defensive masterclass.

Arsenal, however, have rediscovered their defensive authority. Clean sheets against Sunderland, Leeds United, and Chelsea mean they are on the verge of recording four consecutive shutouts for the first time since their remarkable 812-minute defensive streak in November.

Brentford vs. Arsenal Sports Bet Odds

The Gunners are the favorites to win the match. Here are our latest odds:

• The Gunners are favored to win by a goal, with full-time result odds of 1.66.
• The Bees are the underdogs by a goal, with full-time result odds of 5.00.
• Draw has full-time result odds of 4.00.
• Total is set at 2.5 goals, with Under odds at 1.90 and Over odds at 1.90.

Tactical Battlegrounds

The midfield duel could define the contest, particularly Arsenal's double pivot of Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi, who provide both structure and control. Brentford's counter-attacking threat remains potent - their nine counter-attack goals this season are bettered only by Bayern Munich (10) across Europe's top five leagues.

Yet Arsenal possess the Premier League's strongest defensive record, conceding just 17 goals and allowing only one from a counter-attack — second only to Aston Villa, who have conceded none.

Set-pieces present another intriguing subplot. Arsenal lead the league with 15 goals from dead-ball situations, but Brentford have been exceptionally resilient in that department, conceding just four set-piece goals all season - the fewest in the division. If neither side gains an edge there, second balls and transitional moments may prove decisive. Brentford average a league-high 23.3 accurate long balls per 90 minutes, though Arsenal is well-drilled in defending direct play.

Head-to-Head

Arsenal is unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Brentford (seven wins, two draws). Historically, the Gunners have won 11 of 23 encounters, while Brentford have six victories. At the Gtech Community Stadium, the rivalry is finely balanced, with five wins apiece in 11 matches. Notably, Brentford's first-ever Premier League win came against Arsenal in a memorable 2-0 triumph on August 13, 2021.

Injury Updates

Brentford

• Kevin Schade serves the second match of a three-game suspension.
• Josh Dasilva remains out with a knee ligament injury (expected late February).
• Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo are ruled out for the season with ACL injuries.
• Reiss Nelson is ineligible against his parent club.
• Igor Thiago has nine goals in his last 10 top-flight home appearances.

Arsenal

• Bukayo Saka (hip), Martin Ødegaard (muscle), and Leandro Trossard (calf) are doubts.
• Max Dowman (ankle) is sidelined until late February.
• Mikel Merino is out long-term following foot surgery (expected late May).
• Viktor Gyökeres, fresh from a brace against Sunderland, is poised to lead the line.

Predicted Lineups

Brentford (4-3-3) -
Kelleher; Kayode, Van den Berg, Ajer, Henry; Janelt, Henderson; Ouattara, Jensen, Lewis-Potter; Thiago

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) -
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi; Madueke, Havertz, Martinelli; Gyökeres

Final Thought

This London derby carries significance beyond local bragging rights. Brentford's intensity and counter-attacking precision make them a genuine threat, but Arsenal's defensive discipline and set-piece dominance could prove the difference. If the Gunners manage the transitions effectively, they will take a major step toward sustaining their title charge — yet any lapse at the Gtech could reignite the race.

2025-26 Premier League Table

#	CLUB	W	D	L	PTS
1	Arsenal	17	5	3	56
2	Manchester City	16	5	5	53
3	Aston Villa	15	5	6	50
4	Manchester United	12	9	5	45
5	Chelsea	12	8	6	44
6	Liverpool	12	6	8	42
7	Brentford	12	3	10	39
8	Everton	10	7	9	37
9	Bournemouth	9	10	7	37
10	Newcastle United	10	6	10	36
11	Sunderland	9	9	8	36
12	Fulham	10	4	12	34
13	Crystal Palace	8	8	10	32
14	Brighton	7	10	9	31
15	Leeds United	7	9	10	30
16	Tottenham	7	8	11	29
17	Nottingham Forest	7	6	13	27
18	West Ham	6	6	14	24
19	Burnley	4	6	16	18
20	Wolves	1	6	19	9