Mikel Arteta is optimistic about Arsenal's ability to cope without Bukayo Saka, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. As they prepare for their New Year's Day match against Brentford, Arsenal recently secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town. This win came before Liverpool's dominant performance against West Ham, leaving Arsenal nine points behind the league leaders. Arteta believes in his squad's strength and adaptability despite Saka's absence.Brentford has struggled recently, failing to win in their last three league matches. Their latest game ended in a goalless draw against Brighton, where goalkeeper Mark Flekken was injured early on. Ben Mee also faced an injury setback during this match. However, manager Thomas Frank remains hopeful about Flekken's availability for the upcoming Arsenal clash. "Christian Norgaard is no problem and can play against Arsenal," Frank stated.

Frank added that Ben Mee will be out for a few weeks due to a minor muscle injury. While it's uncertain if Flekken will play against Arsenal, Frank expressed confidence in Hakon Valdimarsson's readiness for his Premier League debut if needed. "He did very well against Brighton and I was very pleased with his performance," Frank remarked.Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford has been instrumental in London derbies, contributing to 14 goals in his last 15 matches (12 goals, two assists). Although he hasn't scored in his last two league games, Mbeumo has netted 10 goals from 18 appearances this season and aims to increase his tally against Arsenal.For Arsenal, David Raya faces challenges as the team hasn't kept a clean sheet in their last seven away games. Despite this defensive struggle, Raya boasts a save percentage of 73.7%, second only to Robert Sanchez among goalkeepers with five or more appearances this season.

Match Prediction and Statistics

Arsenal are strong favourites for another London derby win at the Gtech Community Stadium due to their recent form and head-to-head record. Brentford hasn't beaten Arsenal in their last five top-flight meetings since their Premier League debut victory over Arteta's side in August 2021. Arsenal have won their last three away games against Brentford without conceding any goals.However, achieving four consecutive away wins with clean sheets against an opponent hasn't happened since Sunderland between 2003 and 2008 for Arsenal. Brentford also boasts an impressive record in their first league fixture of the year, winning each of their last five such matches.The Opta Win Probability suggests a challenging game: Brentford has a 17.1% chance of winning, while a draw stands at 20.9%. Arsenal holds a significant advantage with a 62.1% probability of securing victory based on current statistics and historical performance trends.