How to watch Brentford vs Arsenal on New Year's Day 2025: TV, live stream, kick-off time, latest team news and much more 

How to watch Brentford vs Arsenal on New Year's Day

Prologue: 

Arsenal ended 2024 in fine form as they eased past Ipswich Town at the Emirates last time out to move up to second spot behind leaders Liverpool, albeit six points behind having played an extra game. 

Mikel Arteta's side have started to find form in their bid to overhaul Arnie Slot's table toppers, as they strive to land their first Premier League title since the Invincibles in fine style back in 2004.

The desire has been made all the stronger after finishing the last two seasons as runners-up to Manchester City, with fine margins separating Arteta's exciting challengers from Pep Guardiola's billionaire moneybags. 

While City implode it would be ironic, if, after such thrilling performances over the last two seasons by Arteta's Arsenal, Liverpool were to be the club to capitalise - meaning nothing more than three points is required by Arsenal in the North vs West London derby on the opening day of 2025. 

Football on New Year's Day 2025

Wednesday, January 1

Premier League

Brentford v Arsenal at the Gtech Community Stadium kicks-off at 530pm and will be shown live on TNT Sports / discovery+

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

Referee: Peter Bankes

Brentford vs Arsenal team news

Brentford 

For their part Brentford are chasing their first win in five matches after only picking up a solitary triumph, an entertaining 4-2 win over Newcastle at the Gtech in early December. The Bees were subsequently knocked out by Eddie Howe's Magpies in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they will now face Arsenal over two legs with the victor progressing to the showpiece final at the national stadium in March. 

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has given a brief update on keeper Mark Flekken, who went off injured during the Bees' 0-0 draw with Brighton last time out.

The Dutchman was replaced by Hákon Valdimarsson as the Icelandic 23-year-old shotstopper kept a clean sheet at the Amex.

Frank also spoke on Ben Mee, who came off injured in the second half of the stalemate.

The Bees boss said: "On both Flekken and Mee, we have no real update.

"We'll know more tomorrow when we really assess them. Hopefully, the injuries aren't too big."

Arsenal 

Boss Arteta confirmed the bad news that many Gooners had been expecting when he admitted that the stricken Bukayo Saka "will be out for many, many weeks."

Raheem Sterling is also out for a spell, along with long-term absentees Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. 

However, Riccardo Calafiori could be in contention to start at left-back in place of talented teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly who has started the North Londoners last three Premier League matches.

The possible switch is not due to any loss of form by the 18-year-old, more due to Arsenal's heavy schedule over the festive period with the prospect of a busy January to come, in a hectic spell that could define the Gunners season. 

Calafiori made his return from injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on December 21 – playing 32 minutes as he provided an assist – but was back on the bench for the entire match against Ipswich. 

Jurrien Timber meanwhile, appears to have made the right-back slot his own during the absence of White. 

Head to head: 

Played: 20 

Arsenal wins: 9 

Draws: 5

Brentford wins: 6