Brentford
Arsenal face big selection problems, Chelsea sweating on key player’s fitness
The new Premier League season continues apace this weekend, with some exciting fixtures scheduled to take place. The action gets underway on Saturday lunchtime, with Liverpool welcoming Burnley to Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded a 3-0 win at Norwich City last weekend and are a banker bet to follow up against the Clarets. There are five more fixtures to follow, with the clash between Leeds United and Everton likely to be the pick of the bunch. Leeds crashed 5-1 at Manchester United on the opening weekend and will be desperate to bounce back at Elland Road. The Red Devils are in action on Sunday as they travel south to face Southampton at St Mary’s. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team were hugely impressive against Leeds and should continue in the same vein in this one. The two north London cl...
Chelsea star a doubt, key West Ham player should start on Sunday
The first round of fixtures in the Premier League features some exciting matches across the EPL table. We’ll update this story with reports, results, highlights and the latest Premier League standings throughout the games. The action got underway on Friday evening, with Brentford recording a deserved 2-0 home victory over Arsenal – Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard got the goals. There are seven games on Saturday, starting with the lunchtime clash between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford. 📋 Here’s @lucyjward_ and @DFletcherSport to bring us the Man Utd and Leeds line up for today’s clash! Jadon Sancho starts from the bench. 📺 BT Sport 1 HD & Ultimate pic.twitter.com/m3KcqE0kYB — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 14, 2021 Chelsea versus Cr...
Mark Lawrenson states his prediction for Brentford vs Arsenal
BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson has stated his prediction for the Premier League curtain-raiser between Brentford and Arsenal tonight. The Bees have returned to the top-flight after 74 years. They are set to host the Gunners, who were their last opponents before they were relegated back in 1948. Thomas Frank’s side will be motivated ahead of the season opener on their home turf, and Lawrenson has backed them to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw. He said: “I fancy them to get something out of this one, because they are at home and in front of their fans, and we also don’t know what to expect from Arsenal yet, in terms of form or how their fitness will compare with the Bees.” Sportslens view: The Bees were the best attacking outfit in the Championship last term, registering 79 goals during t...
White and Lokonga set for debuts, Predicted Arsenal line up (4-2-3-1) vs Brentford
Arsenal make the short trip to west London for the Premier League opener against newly-promoted Brentford on Friday night. The Gunners have won on the first matchday of the previous two seasons, and they are favourites for the London derby. However, they can’t afford any complacency. Thomas Frank’s side can provide a genuine scoring threat on the counter-attack. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line up: Arsenal’s backline appears sorted. Bernd Leno is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, and he is expected to start between the sticks. New signing Ben White is set to make his debut at the heart of the defence. He is likely to be accompanied by a left-footed centre-back. With Gabriel Magalhaes injured, Pablo Mari appears most likely to accompany the England international in central defence. C...
‘Very excited’: Mikel Arteta talks about £120,000-a-week Arsenal star ahead of Brentford clash
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that he is ‘very excited’ about summer signing Ben White ahead of the Premier League curtain-raiser at Brentford. The Gunners start the new campaign with an away trip to the Bees on Friday night. White is widely expected to start alongside Pablo Mari in central defence. In the pre-match press conference, Arteta said that White was a long term target for the club, and he is delighted with how he has settled. He told Arsenal.com: “I am very excited. He is a player that we have looked at for a long time. He fitted the profile of exactly what we wanted, and he’s settling in really well.” White has impressed the club’s supporters in recent pre-season games against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. He will make his competitive debut tomorrow. There will be high...
Brentford interested in signing Manchester-born midfielder, eyeing cut-price deal – report
Brentford are lining up a move for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Joe Rothwell, Football Insider reports. The Bees have bolstered their squad this summer with defender Kristoffer Ajer and midfielder Frank Onyeka, but they are eyeing more reinforcements. It is now reported that the club have their sights on landing Rothwell, who could be available on a cut-price deal with his contract expiring next summer. Rothwell, who was recently the man of the match against Swansea City, could be the second high-profile star leaving Rovers this month after Adam Armstrong. Armstrong looks set to join Southampton. The Saints have agreed a package of around £15 million to sign the former Newcastle United man. Sportslens view: Brentford have done limited business since their promotion to the top-flight, a...
Brentford lining up fresh bid to sign attacker with 27 goal achievements last season – report
Brentford are weighing up a fresh bid to sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson, The Sun reports. The Bees are back in the top-flight after more than seven decades, but there has not been much transfer activity this summer. Kristoffer Ajer and Frank Onyeka remain their only senior signings to date, and there could be more arrivals before the deadline. Johnson is reportedly one of the top targets for the Bees despite the fact that he has played just four games in the second tier. The 20-year-old was impressive on loan with Lincoln City last term, registering 13 goals and 14 assists from 48 appearances. Despite his efforts, the club failed to secure promotion from League One as they were beaten by Blackpool in the play-off final. The Bees recently failed with a £2m bid for the y...
Brentford agree to sign Norwich City target, who has 23 international caps – report
Brentford are on the cusp of signing Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer after agreeing a club-record deal for his services, The Telegraph’s John Percy reports. The Norway international has been widely fancied to leave the Hoops in recent months, having turned down the option of signing a new contract beyond next season. Norwich City had been in regular talks for the centre-back, but the Bees have won the race to sign him for a club-record fee of around £13.5 million. Sportslens view: The Bees were promoted to the Premier League through the play-offs last season after missing out at the same stage in 2019/2020. They were the top scorers in the Championship and were also solid at the back with the fourth-best defensive record in the division. The Premier League will present them with a sti...
Alhassan Yusuf speaks on transfer, new agent
Alhassan Yusuf has spoken for the first time on a transfer away from Swedish club IFK Goteborg just as he also commented on changing of his agents. Newsmen reported that newly-promoted Premier League club Brentford and Scottish champions Rangers have already contacted Goteborg on the availability of their star midfielder. “I know nothing about it. Because now the focus is only on my matches here, so we’ll see what happens,” Yusuf told Goteborgs-Posten when asked about these interests. “As I said: Right now the focus is only on the matches, then we will see if anything comes. You do not know.” ‘Hasse’ has a year left on his contract with his Swedish club and he said he has not started discussions about an extension. The player also confirmed he recently changed agents. He said he changed fr...
Burnley, Brenford keen on 25-year-old who won three aerial duels per game last season
Burnley and Brentford are leading the race to sign West Bromwich Albion right-back Darnell Furlong this summer, Football Insider reports. The 25-year-old was one of the Baggies’ consistent performers last term, and he could be heading for a return to the top-flight. He has two years left on his contract, and it is reported that the Midlands outfit could be prepared to sanction his departure. Burnley and newly-promoted Brentford are keen on Furlong, who started his playing career with Queens Park Rangers. Sportslens view: Furlong was a regular starter for the Baggies last season, missing just three top-flight games over the course of the campaign. The right-back impressed with his work rate and physical presence. He won more than three aerial duels per game alongside two clearances. He...
Brentford and West Brom interested in 24-year-old with 19 goal achievements last season
Brentford and West Bromwich Albion are among the clubs interested in signing Liverpool attacker Harry Wilson this summer, Goal.com reports. Wilson graduated through the Reds’ youth ranks, but he has made just two competitive appearances for them in all competitions. He has spent time on loan with five different clubs and was most recently with Cardiff City in the Championship last season. The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract, and it is reported that the Reds are prepared to sell him for around £12 million. Benfica have explored the possibility of signing him, but Wilson is also on the radar of Brentford and West Brom. Sportslens view: Wilson has struggled to make his breakthrough with the Reds’ first-team in recent years with the fierce competition for places out wide. M...
Brentford striker Ivan Toney could be next season’s Ollie Watkins in the Premier League
For the first time in 74 years, Brentford has earned promotion to the Premier League. The Bees enjoyed a fantastic campaign, ultimately beating Swansea in the Championship playoff final. One of the main reasons that Brentford is on their way up to the top flight though is striker Ivan Toney. The 25-year-old hitman bagged 33 goals after securing a summer move from League One side Peterborough last summer and instantly thrived in Thomas Frank’s side. [embedded content] While there have been boatloads of interest in Toney from other Premier League teams such as West Ham and Tottenham, the Bees have made it clear the Englishman will not be up for sale in the upcoming transfer window. This term actually saw a former Brentford player in Ollie Watkins flourish in his debut season in the Premier L...
