Mikel Arteta admitted
Arsenal were second best in their opening-day defeat at Brentford.
Brentford made a blistering start to their first English
top-flight season for 74 years as goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard
earned a 2-0 win over the Gunners in front of a first-ever full house at the
Brentford Community Stadium on Friday.
The Bees spent the first season at their new home playing
behind closed doors, but rose to the occasion as they were roared on by 17,000
fans in the first Premier League match at full capacity since March 2020.
“What an atmosphere,” said Brentford manager Thomas
Frank. “The first time in the top-flight, we are opening the Premier
League season and for our own fans, they can dream. We are top of the league.
“We are going to celebrate every win, but we want
more.”
By contrast, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is already under
pressure.
The Gunners have finished eighth in each of his first two
seasons in charge and the Spaniard has a daunting task to turn things around
before the September international break with title favourites Chelsea and
Manchester City to come in Arsenal’s next two games.
“I don’t think we deserved anything different,”
said Arteta in a damming indictment of his side.
Frank whipped up the crowd into a frenzy before kick-off and
Arsenal were soon suffering under the relentless pressing his side became
famous for in the Championship.
Bryan Mbuemo drilled a shot off the outside of the post in
the first warning shot from the home side before they took the lead on 22
minutes.
Ethan Pinnock fed Canos on the Brentford left and he cut
inside to unleash a powerful shot that beat Bernd Leno at his near post.
Mbuemo then dragged another huge chance wide after turning
Arsenal’s new £50 million signing Ben White with ease.
The Gunners were without both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and
Alexandra Lacazette due to illness, handing Folarin Balogun his Premier League
debut.
Balogun made little impact, but was also unfortunate not to
win a penalty as he was caught on the follow through after slicing wide just
before half-time.
“A lot of young boys were doing everything they can.
For some of them it was the first experience in the league – that says a
lot,” added Arteta, as he appeared to make a plea for more funds before
the end of the transfer window.
“What I can control and help, I’ll put all my
enthusiasm and work into that.”
Arsenal started the second-half with far more purpose as
Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith-Rowe finally forced David Raya into action.
Bukayo Saka was then given a standing ovation by both sets
of fans when he was introduced on the hour mark after the racial abuse he
suffered in the aftermath of missing the decisive penalty in England’s Euro
2020 final defeat to Italy.
But Brentford’s players were in no mood to show any mercy
and substitute Norgaard made sure of a famous night 17 minutes from time.
Arsenal somehow let a long throw bounce inside their
six-yard box and the Danish international gratefully headed into an unguarded
net to double Brentford’s advantage.
Smith-Rowe and Tierney were the only sources of comfort for
Arsenal as they combined to set up Nicolas Pepe, who was denied by a stunning
save by Raya five minutes from time.
But a clean sheet rounded off a famous win for Brentford as
they ended their first night in the Premier League on top of the table.
