Current form and history firmly favour the Gunners, given that the Bees have won just one of their last 11 home London derbies in the Premier League (D6 L4).
Brentford's poor record in London derbies
Their last such victory came back in August 2024 when beating Crystal Palace 2-1, some eight derbies ago.
By contrast, Arsenal have only lost one London derby in the league out of the last 23 (W17 D5). Since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, 20 visits across the capital have resulted in 14 Premier League wins for the Gunners, five draws and one loss.
Mikel Arteta's side head to the Gtech Community Stadium having lost on their first visit there, but having won the three games since at the stadium, scoring seven goals in those matches and letting in just one.
In fact, the North Londoners are unbeaten in seven successive games in this fixture, with Brentford looking for their first victory over the champions-elect since August 2021.
A close contest is to be expected
Though unbeaten in the last six H2Hs, the North Londoners have won only twice in those matches by more than one goal, indicating how close a contest this could be.
Arsenal are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak away from home with a record on their travels this season of seven wins, three draws and two losses, whilst Brentford have won seven, drawn three and lost just two at home in 25/26.
Arteta is likely to bring the issue of complacency into his pre-match team-talk, given that his side were held to a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium the last time the two teams met, and the fact that the Bees will be buoyant after a 3-2 victory against Newcastle at St. James' Park.
Not forgetting either that the West London outfit are only five points outside a European spot at this point, so, regardless of Arsenal's title charge, they will have their own aspirations to consider.
Igor Thiago, the dangerman
Furthermore, striker Igor Thiago's 17 goals this season mean that he only trails Erling Haaland in the race for the Premier League's top scorer award for the 2025/26 season.
Seven of those goals have been the opening goal to a game, and he's scored nine of his last 10 at the Gtech, so the visiting defence will need to be on their mettle.
He's also deadly from the spot. Only Kylian Mbappe (eight) and Nadiem Amiri (seven) have more than Thiago's six this season, including the one he scored against the Magpies.
Arsenal's top scorer, Viktor Gyokeres, is some way behind on eight league goals, though a number of those have come recently - six in all competitions 2026, more than any other Premier League player - indicating an upturn in form for the Swede, who will be keen to add to his tally in this game.
How many points will Arsenal lead the league by after this game?
Depending how Man City have fared against Fulham in one of Wednesday night's games, Arsenal will know that they will end this round of fixtures either three, six, seven or nine points ahead at the top of the table, so the three points remain vital to Arteta's title ambitions.
Arsenal are one of only a handful of teams that have more home wins this season than Brentford's seven, though Keith Andrews' side did lose to Nottingham Forest at the Gtech last time out.
In one of those strange quirks of footballing fate, Brentford have only lost consecutive home games twice since the beginning of the 2024/25 season. One of those occasions was a loss to Forest, followed by one against... Arsenal.
In terms of injuries and suspensions, both sides are likely to be missing five players.
Saka a big miss for the Gunners
On loan at Brentford from the Gunners, Reiss Nelson is unable to face his parent club, Kevin Schade is suspended for this game, whilst Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Joshua Dasilva have long-term injury concerns.
Leandro Trossard is only rated at 25% fitness for the visitors, whilst Martin Odegaard will face a late fitness test to see whether it's worth Arteta risking a player that is only thought to be at 50% of his usual fitness levels.
Definitely out for the Gunners are Max Dowman, Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, and it's the loss of Saka that could prove to be the most costly for Arteta.
His 35 goal contributions for Arsenal in 63 Premier League London derbies (17 goals, 18 assists), is only bettered Thierry Henry (55) and Dennis Bergkamp (38).
Rice and Zubimendi to set the tempo
In Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal do have two players who have excelled in all aspects this season, but particularly in setting the tempo in matches.
Rice has completed 1271 of his 1432 attempted passes, giving him a completion stat of 88.8%, whilst Zubimendi's 1274 completed passes from 1437 attempted mean he has an almost identical 88.7% completion.
William Saliba's 1456 attempted passes are the most in the team, and with 1393 completed, he has, incredibly, found a teammate 92.9% of the time.
However, 883 of those passes have been in his own half, which is at least 316 more than the midfield pairing, indicating that both Rice and Zubimendi are always looking to progress the game up the pitch.
With only 17 league goals conceded in their 25 games to date, it's clear just how difficult it will be for Brentford to break down the Gunners.
Whether they allow the visitors to dominate possession and look to hit them on the break, or instead plump for a backs-against-the-wall defensive performance to grind out a point, will be one of the more fascinating aspects of this clash.
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