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'What a disgrace': Fans rage over 'horrific' Premier League farce

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Arsenal players, pictured here after their loss to Brentford.
Arsenal players look on after their loss to Brentford. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Brentford have marked their first game in the Premier League in 74 years with an incredible upset 2-0 victory over a ragged Arsenal side.

Sergi Canos gave the west London club the dream start on Friday when he cut inside Calum Chambers and drilled a low shot past Bernd Leno after 22 minutes.

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The goal sparked an explosion of joy from fans in attendance who had waited so long to take their place in the new 17,500-capacity home.

Revelling in their chance to take on the big boys, Brentford took the game to an Arsenal team who looked disjointed and toothless in the absence of "unwell" strike duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Some hesitant Arsenal defending after a long throw in the 73rd minute allowed Christian Norgaard to head home the second and Brentford, the team who suffered an agonising nine playoff failures before finally succeeding last season, were in dreamland.

Their fans filed off into the night singing "we are top of the league" and though they are unlikely to stay there for long, nobody can begrudge them their moment.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank praised his side's bravery and said they deserved to revel in their opening win.

"I'm a little bit speechless because it's the first time in the top flight - we are opening the Premier League season and all our fans can dream, we are number one in the Premier League and it is a fantastic story," said Frank.

"I think the players today were amazing, they ran themselves into the ground and they played with great intensity and were brave to press high.

"Today they deserve the praise and to celebrate a bit. It's been a hard preseason and it's been planned to have two days off because they well deserve to get a little bit of rest."

Brentford manager Thomas Frank, pictured here with players celebrating their win over Arsenal.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank and players celebrate their win over Arsenal. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) (PA Images via Getty Images)

Arsenal under fire over 'horrific' defending

Canos, who will go into the history books as Brentford's first Premier League goalscorer, said his side deserved their win due to their "brave" approach.

"I've been dreaming about scoring the first goal and all these people deserve it," Canos told Sky Sports.

"It is a great three points in the first game of the season, and we go again next week.

"It is a fantastic moment for me and my family. I brought my family all the way from Spain, and it is amazing - a step forward."

The blowtorch was immediately placed on Arsenal following the shock loss, with fans and commentators taking aim at the Premier League giants.

“How would you describe Arsenal’s defending here? It’s just Arsenal. Weak, pathetic, bullied. It’s men against boys,” Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“New season, same old story.”

After finishing eighth in each of his first two seasons in charge, Mikel Arteta was under pressure before the season even began to show signs of a major improvement.

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.

with agencies

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