Brentford to outgun Arsenal on PL debut
After years of play-off heartbreak in the Championship, Brentford are finally in the Premier League, becoming the 50th club to achieve top tier status since the breakaway division kicked off in 1992. Indeed, it is three generations since the Bees were at the zenith, and their unique methods of acquiring players and running the club in English football have gained many admirers, even as head coaches and their more prized assets have tended to come and go rather quickly. Under Thomas Frank, they will be open the curtains on the 2021/2022 campaign in England, where he and his side will pit their wits against an Arsenal outfit that still seem in a kind of transitional period, despite some notable forays in the transfer market. Read our preview here:
Ivan sets the Toney
Naturally, much of the focus in the London derby will be centred around hitman Ivan Toney, whose remarkable haul of 33 goals and 10 assists in 48 second division matches in his first season at the newly opened Brentford Community Stadium was a key factor in their eventual promotion at the expense of Swansea City. Having retained his services, he will be partnered, at least for the time being, by Bryan Mbeumo. The duo are an unconventional strike partnership, with the latter behaving more like an old-fashioned winger in order to draw defenders away from his more vaunted and targeted teammate, cutting inside with the ball to then either lay it off, take a long shot, or more often than not, encourage a foul in a dangerous area. Toney also has a propensity for being challenged illegally, and at 25, he is back on the prime stage to really showcase his talent as a possible future international candidate for Gareth Southgate's consideration with England.
Eject the (La)cazette
Like Brentford, Arsenal still have the complexion of a squad that isn't quite done yet in terms of incoming transfers. Boss Mikel Arteta will also be looking to help engineer some players out of the Emirates before the summer window closes, not least of which could be his sole starting striker for the short trip into the western area of the capital on Friday night. Alexandre Lacazette has never failed to hit double figures for league goals since his arrival four years ago, and yet, at 30, might find his days with the Gunners numbered. Therefore, in the short term, the French forward will be using his minutes as a shop window for potential suitors, of which there could be surprisingly few, given that he'll be commanding a high wage (if not a particularly large transfer fee with a year left to run on his contract). With Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang also the wrong side of 30 and Eddie Nketiah not fully trusted (yet, at least) to have a decisive part in domestic games, the forward line could look very different come September onwards. Arteta is still scratching around for some creativity in midfield; Emile Smith Rowe, already on the books could still be that player, but without the likes of the versatile Bukayo Saka or the ball-carrying abilities of Thomas Partey, he could cut a fairly isolated figure in the visitors' approach play.
Not all White on the night
Much of the outlay for Arsenal has come in defensive areas, not least in the form of Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion to the tune of £50m. Whilst the fee carries the inevitable English premium, many fans believed, and still do, that centre-back was not the main area of the field that required attention. Even so, the newbie will make his competitive debut on Friday with Pablo Marí as his likely partner. That is unlikely to be the case for most of 2021/2022, and the duo will be tested to destruction on Friday by Toney, who bet365 have priced at 2.38 to make an immediate goalscoring impact for Brentford.
