Seeking to avoid a third successive defeat across all competitions, Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a London derby against Brentford in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side were stunned 1-0 by relegation-threatened Everton last time out, while the Bees cruised to a 3-0 triumph over Southampton to further their European ambitions.

Match preview

The ingredients for an upset were there, and Arsenal were served a slice of humble pie at Goodison Park - a ground that has not treated them well in recent years - as a physically dominant Everton side deservedly handed the Gunners just their second league defeat of the season.

Under the tutelage of football pragmatist Sean Dyche, Everton put in the hard graft that would have delighted the ex-Burnley boss to no end, and they got their reward on the hour mark as James Tarkowski easily out-muscled Martin Odegaard to head home from a corner.

However, the whole of North London was cheering on Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur edged Manchester City 1-0, leaving the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand, and an eight-point lead will temporarily be theirs should they return to winning ways.

The threat of sanctions against Man City following their series of charges for alleged financial breaches is music to the ears of Arsenal fans, but any potential punishments - including points deductions - will not be administered for some time yet, so keeping the champions at bay for now is of paramount importance before the two sides clash at the Emirates on Wednesday.

Still unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season - only Newcastle United can also boast that feat - Arsenal welcome Brentford to the Emirates having won eight and drawn one of their last nine home fixtures in the top flight, albeit while keeping just two clean sheets in that time.

The Gtech Community Stadium also played host to a match between a capital side and basement battlers, but there was to be no reprieve for Southampton at the home of the buzzing Bees, who strolled to a 3-0 win over their South Coast counterparts.

Ben Mee's brave header, Bryan Mbeumo's finish and Mathias Jensen's third capped off a brilliant afternoon for Thomas Frank's side, who are taking full advantage of Chelsea and Liverpool's misfortunes to put themselves right in the European mix.

Indeed, Frank's crop travel to the Emirates sitting pretty in seventh in the table, just six points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand and one below Brighton & Hove Albion, although the Seagulls have played one game fewer too.

Victory over Southampton extended Brentford's unbeaten run in the Premier League to an impressive nine games, and Frank's staunch defence have only conceded one goal in their last five top-flight matches - keeping clean sheets in each of their last three.

However, Brentford have won just twice away from home all season - although one of those successes did come at Man City - and Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium in September, a game that will be best remembered for the introduction of the Premier League's youngest-ever player, 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.

Team News

Arsenal's number nine Gabriel Jesus has now returned to the London Colney training centre as he steps up his recovery from a knee injury, but he will not be available for a few weeks yet, while Mohamed Elneny is expected to miss the rest of the season after going under the knife.

Emile Smith Rowe has suffered a cruel setback with a thigh niggle and is out for this one alongside Reiss Nelson, who is now back in training but needs time to build his match fitness after a hamstring problem.

Once again, Leandro Trossard was the brightest spark on the field for Arsenal when he came on at Goodison Park, but Arteta should resist the urge to drop Gabriel Martinelli, whose effectiveness alongside Bukayo Saka was nullified as Everton doubled up out wide.

As for Brentford, there is optimism over Shandon Baptiste's chances of recovering from his groin problem to make himself available, but Pontus Jansson, Frank Onyeka and Thomas Strakosha are all out.

The Bees have no fresh concerns to report from their success over Southampton, and Frank should therefore see no reason to fix what is not broken, meaning another start for ex-Arsenal target Aaron Hickey on the right-hand side.

Josh Dasilva can also feel confident of lining up against his former club, while Ivan Toney is racking up the Premier League cautions - now on eight yellow cards - and will be one booking away from a two-game ban if he is yellow-carded here.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Dasilva, Norgaard, Jensen; Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa

We say: Arsenal 1-0 Brentford

Another frustrating afternoon could be on the cards for an Arsenal side who have lost their way a touch in recent weeks, especially with Brentford stringing together a spate of defensive masterclasses in their stellar unbeaten run.

However, Arteta's men have turned up the heat in London derbies this season, and a return to home comforts is just what the doctor ordered for the league leaders, who should have enough in the tank to edge a close contest and go eight points clear at the summit, but Brentford will not make it easy for them.

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