Brentford have issued team news ahead of their visit to Arsenal, with key players returning and others still out.
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday with the visit of Brentford to the Emirates Stadium, seeking to maintain momentum after an historic 3–0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Gunners, currently second in the Premier League table, are 20 points clear of 12th-placed Brentford and enter this weekend’s match as firm favourites, even though they are sure to field a weakened team with the second leg against Real Madrid four days later.
Ahead of the fixture, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank provided a fitness update that leaves the west London club without several key players.
“There is no new injury news,” Frank said. “Everyone who was available for Chelsea is available again, so that’s positive. The three guys who are getting closer – Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago and Gustavo Nunes – are progressing and going in the right direction. Gustavo is the closest of the three. Let’s see.”
Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen returned to the squad for last weekend’s goalless draw against Chelsea, but the Bees remain without former Gunner Josh Dasilva (knee) and Fábio Carvalho, who is unlikely to return before the end of the season due to a shoulder injury.
Thiago, a long-term absentee, has not featured since December.
The visitors are likely to field a similar side to the one that held Chelsea; Flekken, Ajer, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Norgaard, Yarmolyuk, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade, Wissa.
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