Brentford celebrated their return to the top tier after a 74-year absence with a memorable, magnificent victory over woeful Arsenal as they opened their Premier League campaign in style.
Thomas Frank’s side were vibrant, skilful and energetic on a night of high emotion at the Brentford Community Stadium, making the perfect start to the season, but inflicting serious pain on the Gunners in a sobering 90 minutes for the visitors.
Brentford took to life in the big time with ease and fully deserved the lead given to them after 22 minutes when Sergi Canos drove low past keeper Bernd Leno at the near post, although Arsenal complained bitterly that the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
Only Emile Smith Rowe truly rose above the mediocrity for Arsenal, forcing a save out of Brentford keeper David Raya – who also brilliantly denied Nicolas Pepe late on – before the home fans exploded in noise and elation when they scored a second with 17 minutes left.
Arsenal, without strike pair Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through illness, paid the price for a hopeless attempt to defend substitute Mads Sorensen’s routine long throw. New £50m defender Ben White was particularly culpable as Christian Norgaard arrived to head home.
Brentford’s supporters, understandably, celebrated wildly at the final whistle, but this was a result and performance that instantly turns the spotlight on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as he desperately needs an improvement on last season.
More to follow.
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Brentford
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number20Player nameAjer
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Squad number18Player nameJansson
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number7Player nameCanós
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Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number17Player nameToney
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Squad number9Player nameForss
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Squad number28Player nameBidstrup
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Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen
Arsenal
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Squad number7Player nameSaka -
Squad number20Player nameTavares
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Squad number24Player nameNelson
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Raya
- 20AjerSubstituted forBech Sørensenat 71′minutes
- 18Jansson
- 5Pinnock
- 7Canós
- 15OnyekaSubstituted forBidstrupat 80′minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 27Janelt
- 3Henry
- 19MbeumoSubstituted forForssat 86′minutes
- 17Toney
Substitutes
- 4Goode
- 9Forss
- 11Wissa
- 13Gunnarsson
- 14Ghoddos
- 21Dervisoglu
- 28Bidstrup
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 21ChambersSubstituted forTavaresat 81′minutes
- 4White
- 22Marí
- 3Tierney
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 34Xhaka
- 19Pépé
- 10Smith Rowe
- 35MartinelliSubstituted forNelsonat 71′minutes
- 26BalogunSubstituted forSakaat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bellerín
- 7Saka
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 16Holding
- 17Cédric Soares
- 20Tavares
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 49Hein
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 16,479
Live Text
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Match ends, Brentford 2, Arsenal 0.
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Second Half ends, Brentford 2, Arsenal 0.
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Foul by Nuno Tavares (Arsenal).
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Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Reiss Nelson.
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Attempt blocked. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Tierney with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
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Nuno Tavares (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
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Attempt missed. Pablo Marí (Arsenal) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Emile Smith Rowe with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by David Raya.
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Attempt saved. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
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Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Dangerous play by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
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Substitution, Brentford. Marcus Forss replaces Bryan Mbeumo.
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Attempt missed. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Vitaly Janelt.
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Attempt missed. Nuno Tavares (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
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Nuno Tavares (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
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Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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