Arsenal have a Premier League clash against Brentford to deal with before the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The Gunners are on cloud nine at the moment. They smashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg and are the firm favourites to make it into the semi-finals of the competition.
We’re sure Arsenal players cannot wait for the game at the Santiago Bernabeu, but they first have a job to do against Brentford in the Premier League.
Ian Wright, Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher have all revealed their predictions for that game.
Roy Keane disagrees with Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville’s Arsenal vs Brentford prediction
Brentford are always a tricky side to face.
Thomas Frank has done a magnificent job at the Gtech Community Stadium over the years, and his side are capable of beating anyone in the Premier League on their day.
Arsenal know that very well, having suffered a defeat to the Bees in the opening game of the 2021/22 season.
However, the Gunners have won each of their last four games against Brentford in the Premier League, scoring seven and conceding just two in those games.
Keane and Wright believe Arsenal will beat Brentford again, but Carragher and Neville don’t agree because they think Mikel Arteta will rest players.
Here’s how their conversation went on the Stick to Football podcast:
Keane: They’ll still beat them though, won’t they? They’ve got momentum. 2-1?
Wright: Yeah, 2-1 Arsenal.
Neville: Arsenal could rest quite a few players, couldn’t they?
Carragher: Yeah, 1-1 that. That’s a 1-1.
Neville: I think so too. Yeah, I’m happy with that.
Keane: No chance, no chance!
Should Arsenal rest their best players vs Brentford?
Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries this season.
The Gunners have lost four players to season-ending injuries, and Arteta hasn’t had a fully fit squad available at his disposal at any point this campaign.
The last thing they need ahead of the clash against Real Madrid is another injury, so the wise thing would be to rest a few of their big players.
We think Arteta should leave Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber on the bench against Brentford on Saturday.
Giving Mikel Merino some time off wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
