Arsenal vs Brentford: Can The Gunners Extend London Derby Dominance?

Gunners look to extend dominance over Brentford

Arsenal faces Brentford in a London derby showdown. With Saka out and Igor Thiago on fire, can the Gunners keep their title hopes alive?

Igor Thiago's penalty prowess is another concern for Arsenal, with six goals from the spot this season...

Arsenal's trip to Brentford is shaping up to be a tough one, despite their current top-of-the-table form. The Bees have a decent home record, but London derbies are a different story - they've only won one of their last 11 home London derbies in the Premier League (D6 L4).

Brentford's recent form has been impressive, with two straight league wins, including victories at Aston Villa and Newcastle. This momentum could give them a boost against the Gunners. Arsenal, on the other hand, has a Thursday curse to break, having failed to win or score in their last three games played on a Thursday.

London Derby Stats — Arsenal's London Dominance

Brentford's struggles in London derbies continue, with their last win coming in August 2024 against Crystal Palace. That's eight derbies ago, highlighting their tough run against London rivals.

Arsenal, on the other hand, are firing on all cylinders in London derbies. Since 2022/23, they've won 14, drawn 5, and lost just 1 of 20 Premier League games against London opponents. 

Arsenal's previous form at Brentford has been solid, with three wins and seven goals scored since their initial loss at the Gtech Community Stadium. Mikel Arteta's side is unbeaten in the last seven meetings against the Bees.

Brentford, on the other hand, are desperate for a win against Arsenal, having last beaten them back in August 2021. The stats are against them, but a London derby is always unpredictable.

Tight Match Expected — Form and Stats

Arsenal's recent meetings with Brentford have been tight, with only two wins by more than one goal in the last six games. This suggests a closely contested match at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Arsenal's away form has been solid, with a four-game unbeaten streak on the road. Brentford, meanwhile, are looking strong at home, with seven wins and just two losses in 2025/26. 

Igor Thiago Threat

Striker Igor Thiago's form is a major concern for Arsenal, with 17 goals this season putting him second only to Erling Haaland in the Premier League's top scorer race. He's a threat from the start, with seven opening goals, and a Gtech specialist with nine goals in his last 10 at the stadium.

Igor Thiago's penalty prowess is another concern for Arsenal, with six goals from the spot this season, putting him behind only Kylian Mbappe and Nadiem Amiri. Meanwhile, Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres is finding his form, with six goals in 2026, more than any other Premier League player recently.

Gyokeres will be looking to add to his tally, currently on eight league goals, and could be key to Arsenal's attack. 

Current Standings

Arsenal currently leads the league with 56 points, six points ahead of Manchester City, who have 53 points from 26 games.

If Arsenal wins, they could extend their lead to either six or nine points, depending on Manchester City's result against Fulham. City's 3-0 win over Fulham has narrowed the gap to three points, so Arsenal's win would restore their six-point lead.

Arsenal's three points are vital to Mikel Arteta's title ambitions, given their strong home record and Brentford's recent form. The Bees are in seventh place, with ambitions of qualifying for Europe next season.

Brentford's home form has been relatively solid, with only two instances of consecutive losses since 2024/25 - one of those being the Forest loss followed by Arsenal. This quirky stat might add some pressure on the Bees to break the pattern.

Both teams are dealing with injuries and suspensions, with five players likely missing for each side. 

Injury Concerns Mount

Bukayo Saka is a big miss for Arsenal, and on loan Reiss Nelson won't be playing against his parent club.

Igor locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/1FXbvSrWo1

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) February 11, 2026

Brentford's Joshua Dasilva, Fabio Carvalho, and Antoni Milambo are long-term injuries, while Kevin Schade is suspended. Arsenal's Leandro Trossard is at 25% fitness, and Martin Odegaard's participation is uncertain at 50%.

Arsenal's injury woes are piling up, with Max Dowman, Mikel Merino, and Bukayo Saka definitely out. Saka's absence will be deeply felt, given his track record in London derbies - 35 goal contributions (17 goals, 18 assists) in 63 games, second only to Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp among Arsenal players.

Midfield Masters

Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are key to Arsenal's tempo, with impressive passing stats - Rice (88.8% completion) and Zubimendi (88.7%).

William Saliba's passing stats are on another level, with 1456 attempts and a ridiculous 92.9% completion rate. Most of those passes are in his own half (883), showing he's the backbone of Arsenal's build-up.

⏪ Last time out against Brentford...

Merino hammers it down 🔨

🤝 @BitPanda_Global pic.twitter.com/TtmTxM5prN

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 12, 2026

Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are pushing the game forward, with fewer passes in their own half, indicating they're focused on progressing play up the pitch. 

Arsenal's tight defense, with only 17 league goals conceded in 25 games, makes it tough for Brentford to score. The Bees will have to think strategically about whether to let Arsenal dominate possession and counter-attack or sit deep and try to grind out a point.

This tactical decision will be a highlight of the match, given Brentford's momentum from recent wins and Arsenal's impressive form.