Brentford 2-0 Arsenal: Brilliant Bees start in style as misfiring Gunners fall flat

The
Bees
finally
secured
top-flight
status
via
the
Championship
play-offs
at
the
end
of
last
term
and,
just
as
boss
Thomas
Frank
had
promised,
did
not
change
their
style
to
cope
with
the
step
up.

Canos’ opener
came
midway
through
a
first
half
when
the
hosts
pressed
and
passed
impressively,
much
to
the
delight
of
a
raucous
home
crowd
making
the
most
of
the
chance
to
watch
their
team
again
inside
the
Community
Stadium.

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In
contrast,
this
was
a
nightmare
for
Mikel
Arteta
on
Friday
the
13th.
The
absences
of
Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang
and
Alexandre
Lacazette
–
both
through
illness
–
did
not
help,
but
new
recruit
Ben
White
was
part
of
a
defence
that
conceded
a
second
via
a
long
throw.

Arsenal
had
66.5
per
cent
possession
over
the
opening
15
minutes
but
their
early
dominance
dissipated
as
the
contest
wore
on,
the
visitors
at
times
penned
in
by
their
relentless
opponents.

Having
already
hit
the
outside
of
the
post
from
a
tight
angle,
Bryan
Mbeumo
failed
to
show
the
required
composure
after
excellent
footwork
created
another
opportunity
before
the
break,
scuffing
his
shot
wide
of
the
target.

However,
Brentford
did
get
the
goal
their
positive
approach
merited
thanks
to
Canos,
who
cut
in
off
his
team’s
left
flank
to
fire
through
Calum
Chambers’ legs
and
beat
Bernd
Leno
at
the
near
post.

The
ever-lively
Emile
Smith-Rowe
was
denied
by
goalkeeper
David
Raya
as
Arsenal
improved
after
the
break,
though
any
hopes
of
a
comeback
were
dashed
as
a
worryingly
soft
centre
was
exposed
at
a
set-piece
situation.

Mads
Bech
Sorensen’s
throw-in
delivery
evaded
several
Gunners
at
the
front
post
and
bounced
through
to
Norgaard,
who
showed
the
determination
lacking
from
Arsenal’s
defenders
to
nod
in
and
seal
a
debut
win.