Brentford v Arsenal - as it happened
Live coverage of the first game of the 2021/22 Premier League season from the Brentford Community Stadium. Newly promoted Brentford take on Arsenal in their first English top flight game in 74 years.
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
End of match
-
96'FT: 2-0. Brentford kick off their first ever Premier League campaign with a win against one of the supposed 'Big Six'. It's nothing more than they deserved, with goals from Canos and Norgaard the difference in the end. Arsenal were largely toothless throughout, meaning Mikel Arteta has a lot of work to do for the coming season.
-
94'Saka falls down under no challenge whatsoever wanting a penalty. Michael Oliver says nothing doing.
-
91'Saka fires from range but it's well over. This looks to be game over.
-
91'5 minutes added on!
-
87'Chance for Arsenal!! WHAT a save from Raya!! Pepe meets Tierney's cross in acres of space in the box, but somehow the GK gets down to turn it round for a corner. Stunning stop!
Substitution
at Brentford
-
86'Brentford change: Forss on for Mbeumo
Substitution
at Arsenal
-
81'Arsenal change: Nuno Tavares on for Chambers.
Substitution
at Brentford
-
80'Brentford change: Bidstrup on for Onyeka
-
78'Pepe fires over the top from the free-kick with his left. Arsenal devoid of ideas here, fans visibly frustrated.
-
76'Tierney with a chance to get Arsenal back into the game, but he fires well wide! Great assist by Smith-Rowe
Goaaaaaal!
de Brentford en el 73'
-
Statistics of C. Nørgaard in Premier League3530.09480
-
73'Goal for Brentford!!!!! Norgard scores their second!!!! The long throw into the box from Bech is flicked on by Toney, with Norgaard rushing in at the back post to head into an empty net ahead of Tierney. More awful defending from Arsenal, but Brentford fans are in ecstasy!!
Substitution
at Brentford
Substitution
at Arsenal
-
71'Arsenal change: Nelson on for Martinelli.
-
71'Brentford change: Sorensen on for Ajer, who looks like he's picked up a knock.
-
70'Chance for Arsenal!! Chambers' cross goes over Saka's head and is met by the run of Xhaka. The midfielder fires over from the half volley, so close!
-
67'Mbuemo denied by a fine Leno save! But there was adjudged to be an offside in the build up.
-
66'Chance for Brentford, now! Canos cuts inside from the right and strikes well but straight at Leno. He pushes away from danger.
-
65'Chance from the corner! Martinelli flicks on and Raya is rooted to the spot, but there's not enough on it and it flies wide all the way for a throw.
-
64'Chance for Arsenal!! Tierney picks up the ball from Saka and strikes at goal, but it deflects out for a corner.
-
60'Lokonga's effort is straight at Raya.
Substitution
at Arsenal
-
59'Arsenal change: Saka on for Balogun, who is met with a standing ovation from the entire stadium. What an image!
-
58'Great skill by Pepe is met by fantastic defending from Pinnock.
-
56'Lokonga and Smith-Rowe link up well, but Brentford get the ball clear. They look to be two of Arsenal's main outlets this match.
-
54'Toney fouled by White.
-
51'Big chance for Arsenal!! Smith-Rowe drives foward after a fantastic piece of control. His effort is too close to Raya, however, who makes a decent save.
-
48'First attack from Arsenal. Tierney played in out wide by Xhaka but his effort across goal is well held by Raya.
-
46'More poor defending from Arsenal from the long throw could have caused them more problems. Brentford can't take advantage of it, however.
-
46'We're back underway! No changes at the break!
-
45'HT: 1-0. Brentford go in at the break with a shock lead, but nothing less than they deserve! Canos' fine strike is the difference so far, as Arsenal have it all to do in the second half!
-
45'1 minute added on!
-
44'Another chance for Brentford! Toney turns provider again, putting in a fantastic cross from the left which is inches away from Janelt. So close to 2-0!
-
41'Raya comes out and claims brilliantly, ending the Arsenal attack. Jansson down for Brentford.
-
37'Arsenal making lives difficult for themselves. Brentford pressing high and steal the ball from Xhaka in the Arsenal box, but a wayward pass from the Bees ends the attack.
-
33'Arsenal devoid of ideas here. Pepe takes it on himself to find a goal, cutting inside and firing at goal, but it's comfortably wide.
-
31'Balogun has a chance for Arsenal after Tierney's pull back, but Pinnock does just enough to pressure him.
-
30'Golden opportunitty for Brentford!! Mbeumo appears to have lost the ball before managing to get past White and Mari in the Arsenal box. From the angle he can only manage to fire his shot well wide. What a bit of skill!
-
28'Canos with another effort! But this one from the edge of the box is comfortably over the bar.
-
26'Brentford fans are absolutely loving it at the moment, and so they should! Canos the scorer of their club's first EVER Premier Leaug goal.
Goaaaaaal!
de Brentford en el 22'
-
Statistics of Sergi Canós in Premier League3130.1370
-
22'Goal for Brentford!!!!! Canos scores!!!!! Arsenal get the first attack clear, although only as far as Brentford's midfield who head towards Canos. The Spaniard cuts onto his right inside the box and fires a cracker past Leno at his near post. Brentford fans going wild!!
-
17'Handball against Pepe in the Brentford box. Chambers skyed the chance, in any case.
-
17'Chambers fires a half volley across goal from the cross from the left, but Brentford clear well.
-
14'Jansson cuts out a fine back-heel pass from the byline from Balogun, who intended to find Smith-Rowe.
-
12'Brentford hit the post!! Toney plays it over the top for Mbeumo who leaves Mari in the dust, but he can only find Leno's near post from the angle! So close for Brentford!
-
11'First chance to Brentford! Onyeka heads over from Mbeumo's cross from the left! It loops dangerously but lands on the top of the net, not inside it.
-
9'Lokonga's cross is met with a fine claim from Raya in the Brentford goal, who just about holds on to the ball.
-
8'Brentford appear animated by the crowd and are putting Arsenal defenders under plenty of pressure.
-
4'Norgaard with a tough challenge on Smith-Rowe, he's probably lucky to escape a card there.
-
2'Tierney strikes from distance following the corner but it's easy for Raya.
-
1'Martinelli finds himself in space in the box following Lokonga's cross! But he can't find the necessary contact.
-
1'And we're underway!
Start of match
-
PRVWThomas Frank is out there amping up the crowd, he loves it!
-
PRVWThe Brentford fans are out in full song, what an amazing atmosphere we have here at Brentford Community Stadium!
-
PRVWIt's a cloudy day today in Brentford, the temperature a warm 21º.
-
PRVWLooking ahead to tonight's match officials, Michael Oliver will be taking charge, with Chris Kavanagh on VAR duties.
-
PRVWInterestingly, this is the first league meeting between the two since May 1947, which Arsenal won 1-0 at Griffin Park.
-
PRVWArsenal also give debuts to 50-million-pound signing Ben White and midfielder Lokonga. 20-year-old Folarin Balogun is tasked with leading the line for the Gunners, in very much a young looking side which also features Smith-Rowe and Martinelli. England international Bukayo Saka has to settle for a spot on the bench.
-
PRVWTaking a look at the teams, Brentford make four changes from their Championship play-off final win against Swansea. New signings Ajer (from Celtic) and Onyeka (Midtjylland) make their debuts for the Bees.
-
PRVWArsenal bench: Hein (GK), Bellerin, Holding, Nuno Tavares, Cedric, Elneny, Saka, Maitland-Niles, Nelson
-
PRVWBrentford bench: Gunnarsson (GK), Bech, Roerslev, Goode, Bidstrup, Ghoddos, Dervisoglu, Wissa, Forss
-
PRVWArsenal XI: Leno (GK); Chambers, White, Mari, Tierney; Lokonga, Xhaka; Pepe, Smith-Rowe, Martinelli; Balogun
-
PRVWBrentford XI: Raya (GK); Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock; Canos, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Henry; Mbeumo, Toney
-
PRVWLet's take a look at the starting line-ups as team news is in!
-
PRVWArsenal, meanwhile, will be looking to get their campaign off to the perfect start, as the top of the table looks set to be one of the most competitive in recent years!
-
PRVWAfter finally securing promotion from the Championship, this will be Brentford's first match in the English top flight for 74 years!
Pre-match
13 August 2021, 21:00
Referee: Michael Oliver | VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Stadium: Gtech Community Stadium
-
PRVWHello and welcome to our live coverage of the new Premier League season, which sees Brentford take on Arsenal at the Brentford Community Stadium!