It’s that time of the year again! A time when football fans all around the globe welcome a new football season. A time of renewed hope – one that leaves fans wondering whether this will be ‘their’ season. For fans whose clubs have spent well, ‘bring on the new season’ is their go-to word. For fans whose clubs have not done so, the new season brings a season of despair. In all, For most fans, the dawn of a new season brings with it a clean slate where all the hurts of the past season are forgotten.

With 82 days gone since the 2020/21 season wound down and was inevitably confined to the annals of history, the new season dawns with newly promoted Brentford bringing up the curtain on their first top flight season since 1947 at home to Arsenal. Brentford would become the 50th club to play in the Premier League tonight and would be hoping to be the first debutant to win a home match on the opening day since Hull City last did same in the 2008-09 season. Their rise to the league of the elites has been remarkable – one they would be hoping wpould continue for a very long time.

Brentford players celebrate

Arsenal on the other hand are one of the Premier League’s Big Boys as they’ve been in the league since inception. The Gunners come into the season on the back of two back-to-back 8th place finishes. A lot of questions and uncertainties still surrounds Mikel Arteta and his boys – questions they would be hoping to answer as the season progresses. If Arsenal are going to challenge for a place at the top of the league, there are still businesses to be done before the transfer window closes on August 31. But first, they have to deal with Brentford without their Aubameyang and Lacazette

Match Facts
  • This will be the first league meeting between Brentford and Arsenal since May 1947, a match the Gunners won 1-0 at Griffin Park.
  •  Arsenal have won just one of their six visits to Brentford in all competitions (D1 L4), though this will be the first such meeting since May 1947.
  • In English top-flight history, Arsenal (47%) and Brentford (43%) have the two highest win rates in London derby matches. The Gunners have played 700 such games (329 wins) while Brentford have played just 28 (12 wins).
  • Brentford will be the 50th different team to play in the Premier League, and the 10th from London. Just 11 of the previous 49 participants have won their first ever game in the competition (D15 L23), while no side from the capital has won their first ever Premier League game (D5 L4).
Team News
  1. Brentford’s star striker Ivan Toney is fit to start, having missed the final pre-season friendly against Valencia as a precaution because of a neck problem.
  2. New signing Yoane Wissa could be involved but injured pair Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen are unavailable.
  3. Arsenal’s summer recruits Ben White, Albert Lokonga and Nuno Tavares are in contention to make their debuts.
  4. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexander Lacazette would both miss out after due to illness
  5. Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel aren’t expected to be available until at least September.

Brothers-in-arms

 

Arsenal is expected to come out of this game with a victory but the absence of their two strikers meant that won’t be a straightforward task. Brentford, cheered on by thy enthusiastic supporters, would be up for it.

I expect Arsenal to start the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Balogun starting up front just playing ahead of Pepe, ESR and Saka or Martinelli. Xhaka is a nailed on starter, so it remains to be seen who partners him in midfield. If Arsenal’s  preseason travails are anything to go by, creation of chances could be Arsenal’s Achilles heel once again. How the midfield combines would go a long way to determine how Arsenal would fare in this game. Brentford would be expected to attack hence leaving space for Arsenal to exploit. I hope they do so.

It is very important that Arsenal starts the season on a winning note as the next few games after this are against the holder, Manchester City and title hopefuls Chelsea. Brentford would not be an easy game but I expect the Gunners to get by.

Prediction – 3- 1 to Arsenal.