Mikel Arteta has cautioned that Arsenal consistently face challenges against Brentford, ahead of their upcoming encounter at the Emirates in the Premier League this Saturday.
The Gunners are entering the match in exceptional form, having netted 24 goals in their last five top-flight fixtures, including a resounding 6-0 victory against Sheffield United on Monday.
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Having triumphed in their last seven Premier League outings, Arsenal have rebounded impressively from a downturn in December as they strive to clinch their first top-flight championship since 2004.
However, Arteta expresses concern about Thomas Frank’s squad, citing their recent 2-2 draw against Chelsea and the formidable talents of Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay among their ranks.
Toney, heavily linked with a potential move to Arsenal, is recognized as one of the Premier League’s premier strikers, while Maupay has earned a reputation for unsettling opposing teams with his psychological tactics.
Brentford secured a valuable point in their previous visit to the Emirates last season, showcasing an outstanding away performance.
This result contributed to Arsenal ultimately falling short in the title race to Manchester City, despite leading the table for 248 days.
Speaking ahead of the two clubs locking horns once again this weekend, Arteta said: ‘Every point that we left [last season] hurts.
‘It’s still there and that’s it. But we have a lot to play for. We know the difficulty of the match. We always suffer against Brentford.’
The Bees also secured a victory against Arsenal in the opening match of the 2021-22 season following their promotion from the Championship in the preceding season.
When quizzed about the importance of securing three points against Brentford, with Man City and Liverpool set to play each other, Arteta added: ‘That’s the only thing we can control.
‘Perform well and play better than them. If we do that, on Sunday it’s a beautiful game to watch [between Man City and Liverpool]. I can’t control it.
‘Privately and publicly I have no preference because it’s nothing to do with me.’
