Arsenal-Brentford Preview

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has said that after Manchester City, Arsenal are the "best performing team in the league" prior to the visit of the Gunners on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta's men head into the weekend top of the league having won five and lost just one of their opening six matches.

The singular defeat came in their last Premier League outing, a 3-1 defeat at Manchester United.

But that reverse has not lowered Frank's opinion of the Gunners and their performance so far this season, as well as his admiration for Arteta.

"After City, they are the best performing team in the league," Frank told reporters.

"Their players are growing, they've got the right players in. Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff have proved they have done well. And the board behind him, they are consistent in the way that they work.

"They are building a team that's young, very exciting, and that has key players in good positions. So he's done a top job.

Brentford have also had an impressive start to the campaign, losing just one of their six matches and enjoying a couple of emphatic home victories, including a famous 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United.

And Arteta has been highly complimentary of Frank and his team, saying: "I think they are a really good side.

"I think what Thomas and the staff have done there, not only this year but over the years - I think it's remarkable.

"The way they have performed and the results they've got against the top clubs as well, especially at home, just sets the tone and what is going to happen on Sunday and we are very aware of how difficult it's going to be to beat them."

Brentford - Ivan Toney

Only Erling Haaland (11) has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than Toney so far this season (seven - five goals, two assists). The former Newcastle United man was called up to the England squad for the first time this week, so he is sure to be full of confidence against the Gunners.

Arsenal - Gabriel Jesus

Coming into this weekend's games, the 25-year-old has had more touches in the opposition box (66), attempted more dribbles (34), more dribbles in the box (eight) and won more fouls (21) than any other player in the Premier League this season. Can he keep up his impressive start to his Arsenal career with another good performance here?

- Brentford have won five of their six home league games against Arsenal (L1), including a 2-0 victory in this exact fixture last term.

- Brentford have scored 15 goals in their six Premier League games this season, with only Manchester City netting more (20). Their average of 2.5 goals-per-game is almost double their average for last season (1.3 - 48 goals in 38 games).

- None of Arsenal's last 23 Premier League games have been drawn (W16 L7). It is the longest ongoing run without a draw among sides currently in the competition, while only between January and October 2018 (25) have the Gunners had a longer run without one.

- Arsenal have won five of their last eight away London derby matches in the Premier League (L3), as many as they had in their previous 23 on the road (D9 L9).

- Only Manchester City (19.6 per cent) have a higher shot conversion rate in the Premier League this season than Brentford (19.5 per cent). The Bees have also outperformed their expected goals by almost five (15 goals, 10.2 xG), with only Man City again doing better.

Updated September 17, 2022