Paul Merson makes bold Brentford vs Arsenal prediction after Man City ‘pressure’

Paul Merson is backing Arsenal to navigate past a tricky Premier League trip to Brentford this week.

The Gunners briefly moved nine points clear at the summit of English football with a 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Manchester City meanwhile went to Anfield – a ground where they had won just once in the league in their previous 22 visits. Liverpool led heading into the final 10 minutes of the match, in sight of a win that could have firmly extinguished City’s hopes of chasing down Arsenal.

But a thrilling fightback ensured Pep Guardiola’s side lived to fight another day.

The manner of City’s win on Merseyside has fuelled City’s ambition and put pressure back on Arsenal. City could reduce the gap at the top to three points if they beat Fulham on Wednesday night with the Gunners away to Brentford on Thursday.

The Bees are enjoying a superb season under Keith Andrews, flying high in sixth place despite losing their manager and three of their most influential players last summer in Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard.  

Former Arsenal star Merson believes Arteta faces a real dilemma over who to start up front in west London with Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus jostling for the role up top.

And despite Brentford’s excellent form, he does not see them breaching the Arsenal defence.

‘All of a sudden, the pressure is now on Arsenal,’ Merson wrote for Sportskeeda.

‘Out of nowhere, it’s back on them again! This is a super tricky fixture. Brentford have lost just once at home this season and it was against Nottingham Forest. Arsenal will hope it’s that Brentford who turn up here.

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Not long ago, Arsenal went to Leeds and destroyed them in what was considered a tricky game.

‘Mikel Arteta has a great squad at his disposal and I don’t doubt them. If they play to their best, they will definitely win.

‘Arsenal don’t give away a lot of chances to their opponents like City. So for Brentford to win, they must play out of their skins and also hope Arsenal have a terrible game.

‘I expect Fulham to score against City but I don’t expect Brentford to score here, that is the difference with Arsenal.’