Mikel Arteta had his press conference yesterday and, as expected, give nothing away in terms of availability of key players like Saliba or Trossard. He did say that Big Gabi is a ‘few weeks’ away and given it’s the beginning of December, I think most of us would take it if he’s coming back for around the Christmas period, because then and at the beginning of January we have a block of tough games that we’re going to have to navigate and doing it with him is better than without.

If you’re taking Arteta by his word, then you’ve got to make the assumption that it’s the same with Kai, as Arteta used the same words to describe his arrival. He spoke glowingly about how much he loves him and how he is desperate to have him back in the squad, but as he also alluded to in his press conference, this has been the worst period for injuries he’s ever experienced. Certainly in his five years in charge I don’t remember us suffering as many injuries as we have this season and whilst Arteta referenced “especially in attack”, the reality is that we’ve had players out all over the pitch. Now it appears to be hitting the defence with both our main central defenders out at the weekend and whilst I – like you – am desperate to get Bug Bill back on the pitch, I wonder if they’ll play it safe tonight against Brentford and keep Mosquera and Hincapié on from the start.

I don’t there’s many of us who would have a problem with that, to be honest, because both players have come in and looked really good every time they’ve been asked to play. For our Ecuadorean, he’s played the intensity of a North London Derby and the physicality of a Chelsea game in which he was certainly tested more and came through it. This is a central defensive partnership that is still in its infancy and that is really impressive that they went to Chelsea and were able to hold their own and I think given that context, Arteta will probably feel more comfortable about getting them in tonight, so perhaps there’s no need to rush Big Bill back and have him ready for Villa on Saturday.

It’s the same with Trossard and given we now have Gyokeres and Gabby J available from the bench, there’s no need to risk him tonight. The one question mark that emerged yesterday was the availability of Saka, because he wasn’t spotted in training or in any of the training pictures. There was no mention of it yesterday but I think that’s because Arteta wasn’t asked and given how he likes to mislead everyone (think Odegaard on team walks, or Saka turning up to the Emirates with the team in his tracksuit when he was clearly injured), it wouldn’t surprise me if Saka wasn’t available tonight. Or perhaps he’s just on the bench and Arteta gives Noni the nod in his preferred position.

There are still plenty of decisions he needs to make though, not least up front and in those attacking wide positions. Martinelli hardly set the world alight at Stamford Bridge and as I referenced yesterday on Brentford’s playing style, this doesn’t quite feel like the kind of game he will excel in. Of course we may not get the choice; if Trossard and Saka are both out tonight, then it’ll be Martinelli wide left, Madueke wide right and I wonder if Arteta will rotate in Odegaard and Gyokeres for Eze and Merino. Both of those players have played a fair bit of football recently and so to give them some bench time might be good from a fatigue perspective. He could of course opt for Eze wide left, but given he was pretty anonymous at Stamford Bridge, my guess would be more on the Brazilian than Ebs.

Given Zubimendi came off relatively early against Chelsea to protect him from a second yellow, plus Calafiori came off at halftime because of his yellow, you could argue that both could play, but given Calafiori has been nursing an injury since the international break and there’s Villa to come at the weekend, I wonder if Myles will be given the nod to protect the Italian. I wonder if the same will be said of Saka too. 

So I suspect we’ll see a line up that looks a little like this:

Raya

Timber   –   Mosquera   –   Hincapie   –   Lewis-Skelly

Zubimendi   –   Rice

Odegaard

Saka   –   Gyokeres   –   Martinelli

That team is still a very strong side and as we’ve been saying all season it really hits home the depth we have, because in this scenario the bench includes Kepa, White, Norgaard, Eze, Madueke and Merino all available to be called on if needed. And I think given the load on the players there will be a few of those that will be called upon. I did wonder whether to suggest whether White might get a go, but Timber is proving so valuable and he’s so in form right now, that I don’t think Arteta drops him given there’s no Saliba or Gabriel. 

Brentford look like they have a pretty fully fit squad and their danger man is obviously Thiago with his goals, Damsgaard with his eye for that pass from deep, plus Kayode with the long throws. Brentford are a side that – as I said yesterday – will not want too much of the ball, but they will want to make the most of those set pieces, so we’ll need to be strong and physical in the duels to win this one methinks. 

I don’t think this will be pretty tonight, but you have to find ways to answer those questions asked if you want to be top of the league. City may have wobbled a bit yesterday in that second half, but they ultimately got the win and narrowed the gap to two points, so we need to be looking at getting a win here by hook or by crook. I don’t care if it’s scrappy, I don’t care if it’s ugly, we need to do our jobs against a decent Brentford side. 

Go out and prove your title credentials once again, Arsenal.

Back tomorrow with a review of what will unfold later this evening.