Brentford vs Arsenal injury news: 7 ruled out and 1 doubt for Premier League clash
Arsenal and Brentford are set to face off in a highly anticipated Premier League match on Thursday evening, with both teams dealing with significant injury concerns ahead of the London derby. The Gunners, currently leading the table by six points after a confident victory over Sunderland, are under pressure from Manchester City, who kept pace with a big away win over Liverpool. City could further tighten the title race with a win over Fulham on Wednesday, playing just 24 hours before their rivals.
Brentford, sitting in seventh place, are two points ahead of Everton and trail Liverpool only on goal difference following an impressive away win against Newcastle United. Under manager Keith Andrews, the Bees have silenced critics who doubted them after the departure of Thomas Frank and the loss of key playing talent, showcasing strong form this season.
As fans eagerly await this fascinating all-London clash, here is a comprehensive roundup of the latest injury news affecting both squads.
Brentford injury updates
Fabio Carvalho - Out
Carvalho is sidelined with a long-term issue. Speaking in November, Andrews provided an update: “Fabio had his operation yesterday, which went well. We’re delighted about that, and we’ll look after him on his journey back to fitness.”
Antoni Milambo - Out
Milambo is also out long-term due to a knee injury. A club statement at the time read: “Milambo underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on Tuesday. The midfielder will now begin the initial stages of his rehabilitation at the club.”
Kevin Schade - Out (Suspended)
Schade is serving a suspension after receiving a red card, with this being the second game of his three-match ban. He is expected to return after the Macclesfield cup game.
Josh DaSilva - Out
DaSilva remains unavailable. Andrews commented in late December: “Josh is doing well. The road [to recovery] has been long and hard, and he's shown phenomenal character and resilience to get to this point. We're still hopeful that we'll see him out on the grass in a team environment sooner rather than later. He's working tirelessly with the medics and performance team to come back in the best possible place.” DaSilva is anticipated to return towards the end of this month.
Arsenal injury updates
Mikel Merino - Out
Merino will miss the rest of the season after suffering a foot fracture. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed: “He needs to go through a [surgical] procedure, which is not always positive. He's a big player for us...That's a big blow.”
Max Dowman - Out
Dowman is nearing a return but won’t be ready for a couple of weeks. Arteta stated: “It will be a little bit more [longer] than Mosquera. He's growing, and we need to be very careful and a little more protective. He has a different schedule as well because he needs to go to school...But I think he's quite close. He's on the pitch now, he's doing well.” Dowman is expected back within two weeks.
Bukayo Saka - Out
Saka is recovering from a hip injury. Arteta said: “His hip is getting much better. So yeah, hopefully, very soon he will be with us.” Saka is likely to return in just over a week, with Arsenal unlikely to risk him in this game or the upcoming cup match.
Martin Odegaard - Doubt
Odegaard is a doubt for the clash. Arteta provided an update: “Martin is getting better... it will be a matter of days, we believe.” The Arsenal captain will be battling to be fit in time for the match.
This injury news adds an extra layer of intrigue to the Premier League encounter, as both teams navigate absences that could impact their strategies and performance on the pitch.
