Brentford hit with untimely injury blow ahead of Arsenal clash
The Bees will olay Arsenal on Saturday afternoon without Nathan Collins anchoring their defense.
Brentford will host Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Gunners at the Gtech Stadium, marking their second encounter this season.
In their previous meeting in the Carabao Cup in September, Arsenal secured a tense 1-0 victory, progressing to the next round.
Now, Thomas Frank’s team anticipates a more challenging match, as Arteta plans to field a full-strength lineup, while Brentford will be missing the defensive presence of Collins.
The Irish international sustained ligament damage to his ankle during the 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Frank affirmed that Collins will be sidelined for “weeks” and might be absent for upcoming matches against both Luton and Brighton.
The 22-year-old, acquired from Wolves for £23 million in the summer transfer window, has been a consistent presence in the team.
Brentford, currently tied on points with Chelsea in mid-table, have the opportunity to surpass their London counterparts, who are set to play at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
However, in the event of a loss to Arsenal and unfavorable results elsewhere, Brentford could potentially drop all the way down to 14th place.
Brentford hit with untimely injury blow ahead of Arsenal clash