Kaya Kaynak, Arsenal journalist: Brentford is a 'must-win game' for Gunners | OneFootball

The New Year's Day trip to Brentford is a must-win game for the Gunners as they bid to remain in the Premier League title race, explains Arsenal journalist Kaya Kaynak.

Mikel Arteta's sit in second, six points behind leaders Liverpool, ahead of their trip across London to Gtech Community Stadium.

What have you made of the Gunners’ season so far?

It has been a bit of a mixed bag, really. So, they have had some good moments: beating teams like West Ham 5-2 and a 5-1 win away at Sporting in the Champions League, those kinds of games have been pretty good, but there has been a bit of inconsistency with Arsenal.

They have drawn quite a lot of games, they have given up points from winning positions quite a few times, there have been those red cards, and lots of injuries - it has all just made it hard for them to really get any momentum going.

Many would have hoped they might be a bit further ahead, especially given how Manchester City are faltering, and that they might be a bit further ahead in the title race, but there has still been good signs and everything is still close within the title race.

So positives, but also a few negatives this year.

You’re bound to have heard the words ‘Arsenal’ and ‘set-pieces’ in the same sentence plenty of times recently, but it's been a great weapon for them, hasn't it, so far?

Definitely! I have asked Mikel Arteta about this in press conferences and he does not view it as a separate thing; he views it as all part of the game in tandem.

But it is a massive threat for Arsenal, particularly when they go on the road to teams who sit deep, defend really solidly, and are very hard to break down.

If you have got that set-piece weapon in your arsenal - for want of a better word - then you have got that way to break teams down and it is massive.

Gabriel and William Saliba are real threats and the deliveries of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been superb, so it is a real asset for Arsenal.

Liverpool are leading the way at the top of the table at the moment, and Chelsea are right in the mix despite what Enzo Maresca says. Are Arsenal still in the title race?

I think they're at the point where they are running out of road a bit. They cannot afford to drop too many points as they are quite a way behind Liverpool now, who have a game in hand as well.

They have passed up on a couple of opportunities to gain points, so every game is kind of in the must-win category for Arsenal right now.

With all due respect, games against Brentford are where they should be picking up three points and then they become must-win games for Arsenal; they cannot really afford to drop points in these kinds of matches.

So, they are in the title race by their fingernails at the minute, but they are relying on teams playing Liverpool to do them a big, big favour.

Which player should Brentford fans be keeping an eye out for?

I might have said this every time, but it's Martin Ødegaard, for me. His impact on the side has been transformative; he was out for six weeks and Arsenal really struggled. He is massive for Arsenal.

He is the creative focal point of everything they do. He knits it all together on the right-hand side. Bukayo Saka is even better because Martin Ødegaard plays with him. He is the captain and the main creative force and, if Arsenal are going to win, he has to play very well.

What should Brentford expect in terms of shape and style?

It is probably the usual 4-3-3 from Arsenal. They will invert the full-backs, like they have done this season. I would imagine that it will be a relatively similar front five to what we've seen, minus the injured Saka: Ødegaard, Rice, Kai Havertz and probably Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

That is their main threat and that is what Arsenal will bring to the party. Set-pieces will also be a big thing, of course. Not much has changed for Arsenal; they are pretty much the same as they have been for the last few years, which is, maybe, why some teams have started to figure them out a bit.

What's your score prediction?

Brentford are very good at home this season, aren't they?! I will, tentatively, go for a 2-1 Arsenal win.