Brentford

Brentford boss Keith Andrews, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was more likely to go our way. They were very good at the start of the second half. We go a goal down and the reaction we showed was sensational. The chances we created, it doesn't take a genius to realise which team are more likely to win it.

"They grew in confidence, dealt with the setback, got a grip of what we did with the ball. We showed bravery and courage and willingness to run hard and compete."

On set-pieces: "We were brilliant from set pieces. I loved our body language and demeanour. I really liked the way we approached it and the appetite and aggression."

On if it was a statement performance: "I watched a lot of Arsenal and am a big fan of the way they play the game. I don't see many teams give them a game like that. The lads are in a good place."

Goalscorer Keane Lewis-Potter, speaking to BBC Sport: "We are happy but at the same time feel like we could have won the game. It's definitely a good point."

On his earlier missed chance: "I should have done better there. I got a second chance and I wasn't going to miss that one."

On the set piece goal: "No secret really. We train hard on them. At times this season it hasn't paid off. Today it did. Arsenal are a very good team on set pieces and we try to pride ourselves on it as well.

"Confidence is sky-high right now and we could have easily won it. We carry on going to the end and on another day we could win it."

Did you know?

• Brentford have only lost two of their last 11 Premier League games (W6 D3), while across each side's last 11 matches in the competition, only Arsenal (24) and Manchester City (22) have more points than their 21.

• Keane-Lewis Potter's goal for the Bees was their fourth via throw-in situations in the Premier League this season; the joint-most along with Burnley.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brentford's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Keith Andrews makes just one change to the side that beat Newcastle at the weekend. Yehor Yarmoliuk comes in for Jordan Henderson.

Brentford starting XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Van Den Berg, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Ouattara, Thiago

Subs: Valdimarsson, Damsgaard, Hickey, Pinnock, Henderon, Collins, Donovan, Furo, Maxime Deyne

Image source, Premier League

There's four changes to the Arsenal side that beat Sunderland 4-0.

Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres come into the starting line-up.

There's also a boost as Bukayo Sako and Martin Odegaard are back on the bench after injury.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Madueke, Eze, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Jesus.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford are bidding for three successive Premier League wins against an Arsenal side who have scored seven goals in their past two matches.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before their meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford prepare to face the league leaders knowing their home form has generally been strong this season, although their most recent defeat happens to have taken place in their last match at the Gtech Community Stadium – and against an opponent battling relegation.

Brentford's 2-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest on 25 January is one of only two defeats on home soil in the Premier League this season and the Bees have since responded with impressive away victories at Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Keith Andrews' side next take on the dual challenge of facing the competition's toughest team along with a quirk of statistics: since the start of last season, Brentford have only lost consecutive home league games on two occasions, the first time of which was also a 2-0 defeat to Forest followed by a loss to Arsenal.

Brentford, though, can rely on the superlative home form of their star striker. Igor Thiago has scored nine goals in his last 10 Premier League home games, including four braces. Only Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals than Thiago so far this season.

Arsenal's attackers have rediscovered good form of their own in recent weeks, including centre forward Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored six goals in his past eight appearances in all competitions.

The Gunners' 3-0 win against Sunderland last weekend followed a 4-0 triumph at Leeds United although the former was unusual in the sense that all three of Arsenal's goals came from open play. It is only the seventh time that has happened across the entire Premier League campaign so far – and first since the 2-1 loss at Aston Villa on 6 December.

Should Manchester City defeat Fulham at home on Wednesday night Arsenal will kick off in west London with their lead at the top of the table cut to three points.

Arteta, however, has a strong record in London derbies, winning 41 of 67 at a 61% success rate - the best ratio of any Premier League manager to have taken charge of at least 20.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have lost just one of their past 20 away games against fellow London sides (W14, D5) since the start of 2022-23.

Can Brentford produce another shock after beating Aston Villa and Newcastle in the past couple of weeks? No, they can't.

Keith Andrews has done an incredible job as Bees boss and they will make life difficult for Arsenal because they are well organised and dangerous on the break.

But I still think Arsenal will win because of their sheer power that means they can run through anything.

This might not be the most entertaining game to watch, because Brentford will sit in and defend, and counter.

Arsenal will deal with that, and then find a way of scoring. A deflected goal will probably decide it.

People might say the way they win games is not pretty but there is still a lot to admire about Arsenal and, in the end, no matter what anyone says, it is all about winning, isn't it?

Arsenal are very good at winning games, and I am expecting them to win this one too. In my opinion, they will go on and win the title too, because of the quality of their squad and how good they are defensively.

As much as you want beauty to triumph over a beast, Manchester City are still far too flaky for that to happen.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "We have the usual knocks and bruises, but nothing major that concerns anything for the selection for tomorrow."

• Kevin Schade will not be taking part in the game against the Gunners, as he will be serving the second game of his three-match suspension.

• Also midfielder Josh Dasilva remains sidelined with a knee ligament injury, while Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo will both miss the rest of the campaign due to ACL injuries.

• On Dango Ouattara's good form: "He's been brilliant. It's been a tad disjointed. The nature of him moving club, the season had already started when he signed. I love working with him. He's quiet by nature. His ceiling is high."

• He added: "His approach to what we do and how we go about it is very selfless, which is an important part of what we ask from the players on certain occasions. He defends selflessly and the quality he has is in no doubt."

• The Bees boss says his side need to "play very, very well against a top team" when speaking about the upcoming game against the league leaders.

• On Brazilian striker Igor Thiago, Andrews said: "He is in really good form; he's leading the line well, scoring goals, and playing with confidence. The relationships that we spoke about early in the season have been more evident."

• Speaking about his team and their fine form generally, Andrews added: "The team that can be calm in chaos is the team that can come through that spell. In the last two games, we've had to deal with different types of games and show different type of strengths to get two really good wins."

• On former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank: "I'm very aware of the football industry that we work in and what goes on in that but my initial feeling was that of sadness and, basically I hope he's OK, which I'm sure he will be, but today's obviously a really tough day for him."

• He added: "Of course I have huge empathy for him and feel for him and his staff at the moment, a lot of which I obviously know and worked with last year, so yes, I feel for him. Thomas is a really good manager. I think he's proved that here over numerous years. He's a very good friend and I'm sure I'll catch up with him pretty soon. Will he bounce back? I don't think that's in doubt. I think he's proved himself as a really good Premier League manager, so yes, absolutely."

Follow all of Wednesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Keith Andrews' Brentford haven't had to focus on cups or Europe, just the Premier League so far - and it shows. A squad that had the heart ripped from it when losing Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer looks as good as ever. They might not be the best team in the league, but they are currently the best organised and sitting in seventh they are also the best value, in terms of money spent.

They have done incredible business sourcing strikers who can score regularly in the Premier League. Igor Thiago cost £30m and has scored 17 Premier League goals this season, phenomenal numbers from the 24-year-old - especially when you consider the staggering sums spent by other clubs on centre-forwards who have flopped at this level. You know who they are.

In recent years, Brentford bought Wissa, Mbeumo and Ivan Toney for less than £25m combined. They were sold on for £160m before add-ons, after providing a barrel load of goals. That's a £135m clear profit and you can add another £50m to that if and when they sell Igor Thiago.

How on earth is it so easy for them and so hard for almost everyone else in comparison to unearth these scorers?

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I am running out of superlatives to describe Keith Andrews' Brentford team.

Week after week they keep achieving more and more and even conservative me has started to think about the possibility of a "European tour" next season.

There is a long way to go and, as I've said before, I will still be quite happy if we finish 10th... but it all adds excitement to what has already been a memorable season.

The past week has been one of the most incredible of the campaign. The hundreds of miles covered and many hours spent travelling have been totally worth it for us fans.

I must admit I expected one or two points at best from the Aston Villa and Newcastle away games - but to earn six is surely beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

For the history buffs, it was our first win at Villa Park in our 12th visit, and our first in 11 matches at St James' Park since 1934.

Both victories were totally deserved.

At Villa, it was a backs-to-the-wall defensive display after Kevin Schade's dismissal - while at Newcastle it was our refusal to give up at 1-0 down, and 2-2 after leading, to win 3-2.

We also made sure Yoane Wissa knew how we felt about him forcing a move to the Magpies and disrespecting us - although only for 65 minutes as that's all he got before being substituted!

The delight on the players' and staff's faces at each result when they came over to us at full-time was plain to see - even from 14 flights up on Saturday!

Andrews is now showing his post-match emotions more than earlier in the season with fist pumps to us after both games.

The players don't know when they are beaten and even if we lose to Arsenal on Thursday, they make us believe anything is possible!

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

"I said they would be there or thereabouts."

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says he tipped Brentford for relegation but has showered praise on the Bees following their 3-2 win at Newcastle.

"Credit to Keith Andrews," Morrison told BBC Sounds' Football Daily. "They have Igor Thiago scoring goals, Dango Ouattara scored the winning goal and caused all sorts of problems. They have good players that fit the mould ever so well.

"Huge credit must go to Andrews and the hierarchy as they saw something and have promoted within.

"They have been unbelievable."

Listen to Football Daily

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is hard enough for a club to rebuild after losing their manager, let alone their captain and talismanic forwards like Brentford did last summer.

But the Bees are flourishing under Keith Andrews.

At this rate, they could challenge their Premier League record high of 59 points from the 2023 campaign after starting to find a winning formula on the road.

Brentford always tend to cause teams problems at the Gtech Community Stadium, but Andrews has now ended a previously rotten away run and got the better of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Everton and Wolves in recent weeks.

His resilient side, tellingly, did not panic after going behind at a buoyant St James' and one tactical tweak had a devastating impact after Dango Ouattara and Keane Lewis-Potter swapped wings.

As well as having an eye on Newcastle defender Lewis Hall's increasing threat from left-back, by moving Lewis-Potter across, Andrews knew Ouattara's pace could cause the 35-year-old Kieran Trippier problems on the other flank.

So it proved.

And while Yoane Wissa suffered with the hosts, what a night for his replacement Ouattara to score his fifth goal for the club.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Pete: This feels like the beginning of the end. A real mess has been made in the transfer market. We made ill-thought-through signings and have an approach to matches devoid of pace, positive decision-making and attacking flair. There is staleness and dreadful body language. Bruno Guimaraes was right to call this a 'mess' a few months ago before being called out by his manager. A tactical approach that has outlived its welcome and loyalty to some that has been many a coach's Achilles heel. It feels a change is just around the corner...

Bryan: Shambolic. We have forwards who can't score, defenders who can't defend and a goalkeeper who'd rather use his feet than his hands to stop shots. Forget about Europe and concentrate on survival. We seem unable to string two passes together unless it's sideways or backwards.

John: A tired performance. With changes every match, not many players are at their best. Eddie Howe has lost his momentum. Are his days numbered?

Matt: We're really not connecting the dots at the minute. We have lacked being so ruthless and clinical for some time - albeit the effort is there. Fatigue? Maybe. But the shape and direction is massively off and it's getting dangerous now. We were nowhere near it on Saturday. I fear the media will jump on Eddie very soon. Dare I say we miss Alexander Isak?

Brentford fans

Gavin: Magnificent - from the tactical nous of the coaches to the application of every player, including substitutes. The turning point was the ever faithful Vitaly Janelt thwarting the traitor Yoane Wissa to stop Newcastle going 2-0 up. Janelt then headed the equaliser and ended the game wearing the captain's armband. For me, he is Christian Norgaard's natural successor. When Newcastle came out flying in the second half, Keith Andrews made a change quickly and their equalising penalty was rather unfortunate for Michael Kayode. However, Dango Outtara took his chance when it came, just as he did at Villa Park, and the Bees looked dangerous on the break the whole game. It's great being a Brentford fan. Long may it continue.

Shaun: I am lost for superlatives. Impressive defending. Electric attacks. The 92 years is long time, but this team can get the supporters' hearts racing and dreaming of Europe.

Steve: Another magnificent performance from the Superbees against the Geordies. Having supported them since the early 1960s, seeing how they have developed and progressed over the past few years to be an established Premier League team, run and managed superbly, is simply astonishing. I still have to pinch myself every time I look at the Premier League table. Like most Bees fans, I am loving living this dream!

Bee Keeper: Surely no-one else comes close to Andrews for Premier League manager of the season? Incredible stuff!

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 1-1 Aston Villa

• Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland

• Newcastle 2-3 Brentford

Brentford boss Keith Andrews, speaking to Match of the Day: We spoke about today whatever is thrown at us lets deal with it, and the players had to do that. Going a goal down, a goal up and then the equaliser.

"Not being satisfied with that away from home against a big club like this, it was very pleasing watching the character and development of the group. The calmness and confidence was also nice to watch."

On Dango Ouattara's winning goal: "He's growing all the time. The cross was sensational, and then the finish was outstanding. He's constanlty evolving his game, he's a big part of our group."

European football next season?: "Ill certainty be going there on holiday in the summer, that's the only way we'll speak about that for the foreseeable future!"

Did you know?

• Having lost seven of their first eight Premier League away games this season (W1), Brentford have now won four of their last five on the road (L1).

• Brentford have won just two of their nine Premier League games when conceding first this season (L7), with both of those victories coming against Newcastle (also 3-1 in November).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Captain Bruno Guimaraes starts as Newcastle United make five changes for the visit of Brentford.

The influential Brazilian missed Newcastle's previous four games with an ankle injury, but is fit enough to start at St James' Park alongside the recalled Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa.

Wissa faces his former club for the first time since pushing to join Newcastle last summer.

Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Murphy, Wissa, Barnes

Subs: Ramsdale, Osula, Elanga, Woltemade, Burn, A.Murphy, Ramsey, Shahar, Neave

Keane Lewis-Potter comes in for the suspended Kevin Schade as Brentford make just one change

The winger makes his first league start in a month after Schade was sent off in his side's 1-0 win against Aston Villa last time out.

Skipper Nathan Collins stays on the bench after suffering a knock in training last week.

Brentford starting line-up: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry, Henderson, Yanelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Ouattara

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Nelson, Yarmoliuk, Collins, Damsgaard, Donovan, Furo

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Burnley v West Ham

• Fulham v Everton

• Wolves v Chelsea

• Newcastle v Brentford (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra with second half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: You just wonder how much Newcastle have got left in the tank after their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday.

The Magpies have a few injuries to contend with too, with Anthony Gordon their latest player to be sidelined, so they will have to dig deep and they will be hoping Bruno Guimaraes is back fit in time for this game.

Brentford got one heck of a win last time out at Villa, and their manager Keith Andrews deserves a lot of credit for getting that result despite being down to 10 men for the entire second half.

The Bees are always so well organised at the back and how Eddie Howe's side try to break them down will be the key to this one.

As good as Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade is with his back to goal, he doesn't run in behind. Doing that, and attacking with pace, is how Eddie Howe's side look the most dangerous - Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga will have to do that here.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Apollo's prediction: 3-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

This is Newcastle's only home fixture across an eight-game spell in all competitions and a meagre tally of three away wins from 17 attempts this season intensifies the pressure on them to triumph on Tyneside.

They are unbeaten in their past 10 home matches against Brentford in all competitions, winning nine. Nonetheless, in-form Brentford are looking to complete their first league double over Newcastle since the 1934-35 season in the old Second Division in Saturday's meeting (17:30 GMT).

Toon and gloom

It's just one win in eight games for Newcastle, counting the FA Cup shootout success against Bournemouth at the start of that spell as a draw. A challenging season took a turn for the worse in midweek when their defence of the Carabao Cup was ended by Manchester City and Anthony Gordon became their latest injury casualty.

At 3-0 down on the night, and 5-0 on aggregate, Newcastle did at least belatedly rally to show some of the quality and fight that has helped them challenge the elite in recent years. They are traits that have not always been evident in domestic fixtures this season.

Substitute Anthony Elanga continued his improvement in recent games with a wonderfully taken first goal for the club, but Newcastle are yet to get the output they need or expect from him and their three other attack-minded summer signings at a combined cost of £209m.

Club record signing Nick Woltemade has gone 12 appearances without scoring and was replaced at half-time on Wednesday by ex-Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who's only managed three goals this season. Like Wissa, midfielder Jacob Ramsey has had an injury-interrupted campaign but, after 25 games, his industry is yet to translate into any goals or assists.

Bees are buzzing

Brentford have quietly moved to within three points of the top six and are on a trajectory which could see them challenge their Premier League club record of 59 points, set in 2022-23.

Not bad for a side who only returned to the top flight in 2021 after an absence of 74 years and lost their head coach and last season's joint top scorers, one of whom was Wissa, during the summer.

Keith Andrews, whose promotion from set-piece coach to head coach has proved inspired, hailed his side's "defensive masterclass" with 10 men in the second half away to Aston Villa last weekend.

Brentford's deserved 1-0 victory meant they have accrued 16 points from their past eight league games, a record only bettered by league leaders Arsenal.

Those two sides and Manchester City share the best defensive record during that period, conceding seven goals apiece.

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• January signing Kaye Furo will be available for selection, while Reiss Nelson is back in contention after missing last week's trip to Aston Villa with a minor knock.

• On why Furo missed the victory at Villa Park: "We just didn't feel it was right. We've had to be careful how we've got him to a point. We've had to tread a little bit carefully, even though he's come in in a really good place physically."

• Andrews on being without Kevin Schade through suspension: "We're disappointed not to have Kevin. We'll miss him for the next two league games and the cup game against Macclesfield. Everyone else has come through a difficult game, for obvious reasons, having gone down to 10 men so early. It's a testament to the place we're in - physically as a team. We're pretty much as we were."

• Andrews also explained why captain Nathan Collins was dropped from the starting XI in the game against Villa: "He took a knock a couple of days before in training. He needed some stitches right at the end of the training session, which was really unfortunate. I felt it affected where the stitches were in his lip so I felt it was the right decision not to start him. Kris [Ajer] and Sepp [Van den Berg], I was confident in them. He was available, obviously. He wasn't fully right, but equally came into a battle."

• Andrews continued: "I think it shows the character that he has and that's why he's my captain, really. He's an amazing individual that leads by example on a daily basis."

• Teenager Luka Bentt made the matchday squad last weekend because it "felt right", as Andrews said: "Last season Luka came into a training session, ironically it was in the build-up to a Villa game, where we asked him to be a Watkins type of figure, closing down and running channels. I just liked him from the minute I'd seen him, so I've kept a really close eye on him throughout the B team games in pre-season. He's been integrated through our training sessions as and when we felt it was right."

• He added: "He's a player that I like a lot. He plays for Belgium Under-19s with Kaye [Furo], so they're pretty close, which is nice for Kaye to have a familiar face as he's come into a new country and a new environment."

• On playing at St James' Park: "It is a special place to play football. The fans get behind their team. It is a cauldron and it can rattle teams coming to town. Our players will have to deal with that emotion and the momentum swings in the game and show a level of calmness, composure and growth to deal with whatever is thrown at us."

Listen to commentary of the full match on Sports Extra and BBC Sounds from 17:25 GMT on Saturday

The second half is also live on 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 18:30 GMT

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have had a great transfer window.

We have strengthened the only position in which we were light - striker - had two first-team regulars sign long-term contract extensions and moved on several players who rarely featured, for both their and the club's benefit.

I said at the start of the window that we needed a young back-up striker to Igor Thiago who would be happy to be his understudy for a while and we got that with the signing of 18-year-old Kaye Furo.

Meanwhile Vitaly Janelt, who was out of contract this summer, and Kristoffer Ajer, both regular starters this season, signed new deals to keep them at the club until 2030.

Keith Andrews rates them highly, as do us fans, and there was mutual delight all round that they are staying for the long term.

Meanwhile, a group of players who only ever made the bench or not even the matchday squad have left the club on a mixture of loan and permanent deals.

Myles Peart-Harris and Paris Maghoma, who were both in and around the first team without properly breaking through, joined Oxford and Norwich permanently.

Youngsters Yunus Konak and Gustavo Nunes, of whom great things are expected, were loaned to Oxford and Swansea respectively for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Matthew Cox was loaned to Shrewsbury.

The other key departure was Frank Onyeka who, in his four and a half years at the club, never really established himself as first choice in midfield.

His most memorable performance probably came in the famous 2-1 victory at Manchester City in November 2022.

The six first-team departures leave room on the bench for some B teamers going forward, with Luka Bentt the first to benefit by being a substitute in Sunday's magnificent 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external