Thomas Frank believes his Brentford side will need to produce their “best performance” ever in the Premier League to get a result against Arsenal at the Emirates this weekend.
Despite falling to a defeat last time out against Everton, the Gunners still sit five points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand over Manchester City in second.
That loss at Goodison Park was a rare one for Arsenal this season, but slip-ups at the Emirates are even more uncommon. Only Newcastle, who held the Gunners to a goalless draw last month, have stopped Mikel Arteta’s side picking up three points in the League at home this season.
With a midweek clash against City to come, Arsenal will be desperate to get back to winning ways and Frank is expecting the hosts to give his players a huge test on Saturday afternoon.
“Arteta has done a top job in building a culture over three years, making difficult decisions and sharpening a style of play,” Frank said in his pre-match press conference.
“They are also playing with that bit between their teeth, that extra edge and determination, because they can smell that they have a chance to win the league.
“You can see that they are running harder and in the duels they are giving everything. They’re so eager to win, and that makes it even more difficult to beat them.”
Brentford have already won at the Etihad this season, as well as picking up home victories over Manchester United and Liverpool, but Frank believes the Bees will have to raise their levels even more at the Emirates.
He continued: “To get anything out of this game we need to top perform. We’ll probably need the best performance we’ve ever put out in a Premier League game.”
