Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE commentary: Kick-off time, team news and how to follow Premier League contest

Arsenal will look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League when they visit Brentford on Thursday, live on talkSPORT.

The Gunners are still in the boxseat to claim the title but Manchester City could cut the gap to just three points by the time they kick-off here.

Getty

That is because City came from 1-0 down against Liverpool at Anfield to win last time out, with Erling Haaland scoring a last-gasp penalty and they then face Fulham on Wednesday evening at the Etihad.

Mikel Arteta‘s men will hope that the Cottagers can do them a favour, but they still need to do the business against a cracking side.

Keith Andrews and Brentford were tipped to go down this year, and after a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on the opening day, it looked that way.

Instead, they head into this off the back of back-to-back away wins over Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Brentford vs Arsenal: Date and how to follow

This Premier League contest will take place on Thursday, February 12.

Kick-off at the Gtech Community Stadium is scheduled for 8:15pm.

talkSPORT will have exclusive coverage of the contest, with Natalie Sawyer serving as your presenter.

Commentary will come from Sam Matterface and England icon Stuart Pearce.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream or find us on DAB digital radio through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Download and listen to all our live commentaries via the talkSPORT app here.

Visit talkSPORT BET for all the latest odds and bet boosts for every big event.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here for news, views and analysis plus our regular goals show and for more, follow us on talkSPORT Facebook and talkSPORT X.

Getty

Getty

• Brentford’s first ever Premier League victory came against Arsenal, in their first game in the competition in August 2021. Since then, they’re winless in their last eight against the Gunners (D2 L6).
• Arsenal lost their first Premier League away game 2-0 against Brentford but have since won their last three by an aggregate score of 7-1.
• Brentford have won just one of their last 11 home London derbies in the Premier League (D6 L4) and are winless in seven since a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in August 2024.
• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 23 Premier League London derbies (W17 D5), while since the start of 2022-23 they’ve lost just one of their 20 away games against fellow London sides (W14 D5).
• This is just Brentford’s fourth Premier League game played on a Thursday – they lost 2-0 at Spurs in December 2021, beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in May 2025 and drew 0-0 with Spurs last month.

Brentford vs Arsenal: Team news

Brentford have a few long-term injury absentees with Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo out until next season.

Kevin Schade serves the second of his three-match ban for his sending off against Villa.

Reiss Nelson is ineligible to face his parent club.

For Arsenal, there will be a late fitness check on Martin Odegaard.

Leandro Trossard is expected to miss out, along with Bukayo Saka.

And Mikel Merino is out for the majority of the season.

AFP

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games (W9 D3). However, they’re without a win or a goal (D1 L2) in any of their last three specifically on Thursdays.
• Brentford lost 2-0 against Nottingham Forest in their last home league game, ending a seven game unbeaten run at the Gtech Stadium. Since the start of last season, they’ve only lost consecutive home league games twice, the first time of which was a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest followed by a loss to Arsenal.
• Brentford’s Igor Thiago has scored nine goals in his last 10 Premier League home games, netting four braces in that run. Only Erling Haaland (5) has scored multiple goals in more different home matches this term.
• Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has won 41 of his 67 Premier League London derbies as manager, the best win rate (61%) of anyone to take charge of at least 20. Overall, only Arsène Wenger (106 from 194 games) and José Mourinho (42/70) have won more London derbies than the Spaniard.
• Bukayo Saka has been involved in 35 goals in 63 Premier League London derbies (17 goals, 18 assists), the third most of any Arsenal player after Thierry Henry (55) and Dennis Bergkamp (38)

Brentford vs Arsenal: What has been said?

Following a brilliant win over Newcastle, Andrews has cooled talk of Brentford playing European football next year.

When asked about their points total so far, he said: “If we are being really truthful, we probably could have had more, and I think that is where we are as a group.

“We are pretty demanding of each other. We are not happy where we are.

“We want to keep striving, keep pushing and see where we go.”

On Europe, it was a bit less positive: “I’ll certainly be going there on holiday in the summer, and that’s the only way we’ll speak about that for now.”