Hello and how are you? The 3rd of December sees the Mighty Cannon clash again with local neighbours, this time Brentford FC. Kick off is at 20.30pm Central European time (7.30pm UK time) at the Emirates Stadium. Expected weather is 8°c (feels like 6°) partly cloudy and between 6 and 18% chance of rain.
So here we be again as the games come thick and fast in the red zone section of the season, and as we take the vitamins and drink lots of water we face another scrap, this time with Brentford. The Bees are currently in 10th place (W6 D1 L6 F21 A20), but lets not see this as a stroll at the Emirates Park, even if it might turn out to be one, Brentford have beaten Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle, drew with Chelsea and were only beaten 1-0 by Man City and made a mighty come back in the last ten against Burnley.
The old historical tête-à-tête be: P 22 AFC wins 10 draws 6 and BFC wins 6, last April it was a Grrr! of a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. The Bees aren’t frightened to play a five man defence, which I’m sure will be exciting for those who like to go bus spotting. They also like long throws and other set pieces as much as we do, but get much less media attention over it.
After the clot of a game against Chelsea (and their offside goal), I hope we can bounce back to playing some decent football but I suppose we can expect Brentford to also play hard (foul) as much as possible? I also hope that instead of pundits predicting either us winning or losing the PL at this point in the season, we as a club can just keep going game by game.
We may sees some changes for the Arsenal line up and the appearance of Ben White instead of Timber! If Calafiori picks up another yellow he will miss the Villa clash, so Myles may start for this one? Gabriel is still out (hamstring) Saliba (a knock?) looks doubtful, Trossard (muscle) too, not sure where Kai is or whats happening? Saka might also be rested. I don’t know and there’s bound to be changes before tomorrows KO.
As usual I contacted our chums at Statto HQ and the nerds give the Arsenal a 71.7% chance of winning and the Bee team 10.4%
Up next, the Villains, at theirs, when Saturday comes. So COYG!
Mills
Another test of our squad, fitness and temperament. Not an easy fixture, this lot can play. I’m glad it’s Mikel picking the team, because I wouldn’t know what the hell to do.
I can’t even decide whether I’m confident or not. I’ll know better how I feel when I see the team sheet.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
Arteta said today that Trossard and Saliba are out for a matter of days more, while Gabriel and Havertz will be out for weeks still.
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Arsenal are set to bolster their academy with the signing of 16 year old Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero, both are versatile attack minded players, be that from midfield or out wide. They will join when the turn 18 in August 2027
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man city 1-0 up at fulham, if it stays like that our lead is down to 2points
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they are 2 -0 up now, so almost certain to win
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FT: Fulham 4-5 Man City
our lead down to 2 points, a win needed tomorrow
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So this lot soak up pressure and counter quickly and are very good in the air at both ends especially with throws. Exactly the type of team we used to struggle against, but the summer signings have certainly mitigated that.
Brentford concede over a goal and a half game but we are very good at unlocking tight defences so I expect us to get more.
Although we looked tired against chelsea, Mikel made it clear this game was important so I don’t expect to many changes at the start. Remember with this squad we always have the option of winning from the bench even if our nervous system’s are due a comfortable ride.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Mikel starts with height and speed all over the park.
I think their will be plenty of goals but just expect us to score more than them COYG.
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So this lot soak up pressure and counter quickly and are very good in the air at both ends especially with throws. Exactly the type of team we used to struggle against, but the summer signings have certainly mitigated that.
Brentford concede over a goal and a half game but we are very good at unlocking tight defences so I expect us to get more.
Although we looked tired against chelsea, Mikel made it clear this game was important so I don’t expect to many changes at the start. Remember with this squad we always have the option of winning from the bench even if our nervous system’s are due a comfortable ride.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Mikel starts with height and speed all over the park.
I think their will be plenty of goals but just expect us to score more than them COYG.
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COYG
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Arsenal: Raya, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori , Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Merino
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Eze, Saka, Jesus, Gyokeres
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this will be Ben White’s first EPL start since the first game of the season
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Merinoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo makes it 1-0 to the Arsenal, he heads home a Ben White cross
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the Merino goal
https://x.com/i/status/1996305785014346153
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Ben White having a good game so far.
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then he slices it! LOL!
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Cristhian Mosquera forced off with an injury, Timber on, White goes CB
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HT: 1-0 to the Arsenal
we could and maybe should have been further ahead at the break.
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other half times,
brighton 2-2 aston villa, brighton were 2-0 up
burnley 0-1 crystal palace
wolves 0-0 forest
latest scores
leeds 1-0 chelsea
liverpool 0-0 sunderland
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Madueke off, Saka on
Martinelli off, Eze on
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Rice off with a calf injury, Gyokers on, Merino gone into midfield
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6 minutes of stoppage time to be played
2-0 to the Arsenal, Saka
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FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
Merino and Saka with our goals, we really should have scored 5 or 6, but at times were hanging on to the one goal lead.
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wolves lost again tonight, they have 2 points from 14 games.
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by the way Arsenal are 14 points ahead of spurs after 14 games.
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sunderland take the lead at liverpool, still over 20 minutes to go there, leeds 2-1 up at home to chelsea
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80th minute mark in the two late kick offs
liverpool 1-1 sunderland
leeds 3-1 chelsea
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both games finished now, leaving chelsea 9 points behind us and liverpool 11 points behind us.
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A welcome three points, but not as straightforward as it looked as if it might be when Merino scored fairly early in the piece. Plenty of talk suggesting we should have won the Chelsea game with them down to 10, but that was a bruising encounter and it must have left its mark – so four points out of six for the two games is not bad at all. Villa had a real roller-coaster down on the coast so I suspect both teams will be running on pretty much empty come Saturday. For the first time since I’ve been watching him Saka seems to be a bit out of form, so I hope he recovers his touch sooner rather than later.
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The squad players have done really well and will need continue to do so if we are to continue winning.
We played some lovely one touch football early on which Brentford struggled to contain. After our goal we seemed to play the ball in the air more which completely fell in their strengths.
I agree Saka wasn’t at his best when he came on but I think he was expecting a complete rest and he didn’t look like he was up for it especially in the interview afterwards.
But the player I was most worried about was Odegaard. I know it was his first start but he broke up more of our attacks than any Brentford player. He slowed down everything and very rarely played the ball forward. He also loses the ball in dangerous areas. I really hope as he gets back up to speed he rediscovers his form because last night he was everything that was wrong with the side.
The other interesting thing was Timber coming on as CB and Ben staying at right back when everyone thought Ben would be moved over.
We desperately need players back because we are getting down to the bare bones.
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The squad players have done really well and will need continue to do so if we are to continue winning.
We played some lovely one touch football early on which Brentford struggled to contain. After our goal we seemed to play the ball in the air more which completely fell in their strengths.
I agree Saka wasn’t at his best when he came on but I think he was expecting a complete rest and he didn’t look like he was up for it especially in the interview afterwards.
But the player I was most worried about was Odegaard. I know it was his first start but he broke up more of our attacks than any Brentford player. He slowed down everything and very rarely played the ball forward. He also loses the ball in dangerous areas. I really hope as he gets back up to speed he rediscovers his form because last night he was everything that was wrong with the side.
The other interesting thing was Timber coming on as CB and Ben staying at right back when everyone thought Ben would be moved over.
We desperately need players back because we are getting down to the bare bones.
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Arsenal Football Club have reached an agreement to sign twin brothers Edwin and Holger Quintero from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle, with the twins due to join us in August 2027.
The highly rated 16-year-olds who have grown up in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, will arrive at the club when they turn 18. They will follow in the footsteps of our very own Piero Hincapie, who was born in the same region of Ecuador and is also a product of Independiente del Valle’s famed academy.
Edwin and Holger are recognised as two of the most exciting young talents in South America, displaying consistent and impressive performances at youth level for club and country. Both players have been capped at under-17 international level for Ecuador.
Edwin is left-footed, quick and a skilful dribbler. He operates as a right winger, likes to take on opponents and has a catalogue of skills.
Holger is a technically gifted, right-footed, attacking midfielder who links play with his progressive vision and also possesses the ability to beat opponents with quick feet.
We will be collaborating closely with Independiente del Valle on the development and well-being of both Edwin and Holger until they arrive at Arsenal.
Everyone at Arsenal is excited to welcome the Quintero twins to the club in the near future.
The transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
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Maurizio Micheli has officially started working at Arsenal. He left Napoli and joins Arsenal’s recruitment team
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George, sent the Villa preview over. COYG!
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reports in France claim Arsenal will try to sign Lille’s 18 year old DM Ayyoub Bouaddi in January.
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some rumors that Mosquera will be out for up to 8 weeks
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Arsenal U18s will play Mansfield away in the FA Youth Cup midweek, with the winners away to Man City in the next round.
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the second round of the FA Cup is on this weekend, and the third round draw will I think be on Monday, and I hope we get a home draw, but I also want us to get drawn against a team we have never played a competitive game against. Wouldn’t Boreham Wood at the Emirates be great. or even Mansfield or forest green rovers if any of them are still in the cup.
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