Arsenal vs Brentford: Predictions, teams, betting tips, live stream, TV channel – EFL Cup 2018-19 preview

The EFL Cup has traditionally provided Arsenal managers with an ideal forum to blood youngsters but Unai Emery would be well advised not to underestimate the challenge posed by Brentford in he wants to progress in the competition.

Dean Smith’s side, playing their first game away to Arsenal since 1947, have enjoyed an impressive start to the Championship season, with only two defeats in nine games leaving the Bees a solitary point outside the playoff spots.

The Gunners, meanwhile, are riding high in the top flight, where four wins in a row have taken them to sixth in the table and eased the anxiety that early defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City prompted.

Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah are among the young guns expected to feature for Arsenal on Wednesday but senior first-team players including Bernd Leno are also in line to feature.

Scroll down for Standard Sport’s comprehensive preview...

TV, online and live stream coverage

The match will not be televised in the UK however you can follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE match blog, with analysis from James Benge at the Emirates Stadium.

Tickets

For Arsenal ticket information, click here for the club’s website.

Tickets for travelling Brentford fans are sold out.

Prediction

Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change

• Arsenal to be drawing at half-time and winning at full-time: 16/5

• Ollie Watkins to score at any time: 2/1

• Eddie Nketiah to score first and Arsenal to win: 7/2

• Brentford to win 2-1: 22/1

Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.

Head to head

Remarkably Arsenal and Brentford have met on just 12 occasions in their history, the last of which came over 71 years ago. The Bees have won five of those games to four by the Gunners with the other three fixtures ending in draws.

Team news

Emery is expected to pick a side similar to that which overcame Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League with potentially more youthful additions including Smith Rowe and Nketiah.

Centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos is a doubt after injuring his knee, though Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to overcome his ankle problem.

Brentford welcomed Moses Odubajo and the right-back could be given his first minutes since rejoining the club. Smith rotated his side somewhat in the win over Cheltenham in the previous round and may choose to prioritise Saturday’s Championship clash with Reading.