Brentford v Arsenal betting tips: London derby for promoted Bees
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Brentford v Arsenal betting tips and odds
The Premier League season gets under way on Friday night in a match between newcomers Brentford and Arsenal, who are 17/20 favourites to get off to a winning start at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will be desperate to improve on last season’s eighth-placed finish but just staying up will be regarded as a success for the Bees, who beat Swansea in the Championship play-off final.
It’s a great way for the new top-flight season to start so let’s take an early look at the markets and odds in our Brentford v Arsenal betting tips.
Match Odds
Arsenal, cut to 50/1 from 66/1 in the Premier League title odds, recently signed versatile defender Ben White from Brighton and he joins Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares in the squad.
The Gunners, 5/4 in the Premier League top-six odds, failed to win any of their pre-season friendlies, losing a couple of high-profile matches against European champions Chelsea and arch-rivals Tottenham in the last couple of weeks.
Bees boss Thomas Frank has made some interesting additions to his squad with centre-back Kristoffer Ajer joining from Celtic and Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka making the move from Danish side Midtjylland while teenager Myles Peart-Harris has penned a four-year deal from Chelsea.
Brentford are evens in the Premier League relegation odds and 29/10 to mark their first Premier League fixture with a victory.
Arsenal, one of 12 teams better on the road than at home last season, took seven points against promoted teams Fulham, West Brom and Leeds on their travels and did not concede once.
They are 5/2 to win to nil and at least one team not to score is available at 23/20 in our Brentford v Arsenal betting tips.
That said, Brentford enjoyed great success against Premier League clubs in the Carabao Cup, defeating Southampton, Fulham and Newcastle in normal time and West Brom on penalties.
Those teams lack the quality of Arsenal’s squad but a draw may not be beyond the hosts who are 9/2 to finish bottom of the table.
Talking Tactics
Arteta played a 4-2-3-1 formation against Rangers during which Tavares scored his first goal for the club at left-back.
Emile Smith Rowe, who recently signed a long-term deal amid interest from Aston Villa, started just behind sole striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Brentford won their first three friendlies, including a 3-1 training-ground victory against Premier League rivals Watford during which Ivan Toney scored twice which they followed with an encouraging 2-2 draw against Manchester United and 2-1 victory over Valencia.
Frank generally played three at the back last season but it remains to be seen whether he sticks with that formation in the top flight.
Goalscorer Odds
Unsurprisingly Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang are the 10/3 and 4/1 favourites to break the deadlock on Friday night or 6/5 and 13/8 to get on the scoresheet respectively.
Smith Rowe scored two goals in his last four Premier League game and is 12/1 and 9/2 in the same markets, while Bukyo Saka is available at 17/2 and 3/1.
Toney was the Championship’s top scorer with 30 goals last season and the striker is available at 4/1 and 6/4.
Match Info
Where: Brentford Community Stadium
When: 20:00, Friday 13th August
How to watch: Sky Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
