Gameweek 1: New Season's Buzzing

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
16,722
Arsenal is playing against some guy named Brent Ford. (Is that Mike Ford's brother?)

This is the type of game Arsenal has really struggled with over the years, playing a team that they think they can just show up and beat. Brentford's players and fans will probably be more intense and fired up for this match than most others this year.
Arsenal dropping points in this one could be really bad news for Arteta, with Chelsea and Man City next, then an international break.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Arsenal is playing against some guy named Brent Ford. (Is that Mike Ford's brother?)

This is the type of game Arsenal has really struggled with over the years, playing a team that they think they can just show up and beat. Brentford's players and fans will probably be more intense and fired up for this match than most others this year.
Arsenal dropping points in this one could be really bad news for Arteta, with Chelsea and Man City next, then an international break.
I doubt anybody is assuming they can just show up and beat Brentford without Aubameyang, Lacazette, Partey, or Gabriel.
 

Tuff Ghost

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
652
Last season, Arsenal started off by playing away against a newly-promoted London club (Fulham) and won 3-0, so I'll take a repeat of that. Of course, all three goal scorers from that match are out- Lacazette, Gabriel, and Aubameyang- so Balogun will just have to bag a hat trick.
 

Tuff Ghost

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
652
Fulham didn't have home fans and energy like Brentford will have today
Oh no doubt, that was intended only as a tongue-in-cheek comparison. Plus, I honestly would not want the start of this season to mirror anything from the last considering they started 4-2-8 (14 points) and were in 15th place after matchweek 14.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Playing here without (checks notes) our best CM, our top two strikers, a starting CB, and our best winger only fit enough for the bench. Credit to Arteta for just rolling with the kids rather than selecting Elneny or Willian (who may be getting the Ozilian "Please please leave, thx for the memories" message since he's not even on the bench) for experience.

To summarize, in the front six we've got:

-A 19-year-old striker in Balogun who really hasn't played English first team football before.
-A 20-year-old wide forward (or maybe he plays striker) in Martinelli who just returned from the Olympics like three days ago.
-A 21-year-old CM in Lokonga who has never played outside the Belgian league.
-A 21-year-old CAM in Smith-Rowe who really only has six months experience at top level.

I'm excited to see what happens, even though the logical side of the brain tells me that there is a very good chance this goes quite poorly.

View: https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1426242213651091456
 

swiftaw

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2009
3,434
Ugh, Been watching the pregame for less than 20 minutes and already had multiple my Pillow commercials.
 

swiftaw

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2009
3,434
Why can't you do the same this season?
I think what he is saying is that last season the matches were all spread out so there was usually only one match at a time. This season they are going back to the traditional schedule where most matches are Saturday at 10 eastern.
 

Tuff Ghost

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
652
The first match of a new season is always exciting, but add Balogun, Martinelli, and Lokonga to the starting XI (plus White- but he was fully expected), and I am amped and pumped and stoked for this one, regardless of outcome. COYG.
 

the1andonly3003

New Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,371
Chicago
I think what he is saying is that last season the matches were all spread out so there was usually only one match at a time. This season they are going back to the traditional schedule where most matches are Saturday at 10 eastern.
yeah exactly...watching full replays and highlights won't be the same
it was also the main companion with everything closed down
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,671
Brentford really taking it to Arsenal in the first half. Playing at home with fans making a huge difference, but Arsenal are really disjointed while attacking and have made some really bad defensive miscues.
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
It’s always fun to watch these Championship teams come up and play fearless around in season. Brentford playing with vigor and flair.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
It’s always fun to watch these Championship teams come up and play fearless around in season. Brentford playing with vigor and flair.
Yup, fair play to Brentford. They are buzzing and they have a progressive style and a cohesive team.

Arsenal have looked pretty disjointed, which is not all that surprising given the lineup.

Basically an even game by shots and xG with neither side creating very much.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
That must be some fucking party there.

Love it when a side comes up.

They're getting after it.

Arsenal's kits do look cool.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,671
Ben White was so helpess as he watched that ball bounce over his head.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
Was about to make a joke about how Arsenal's new 50m centerback is not exactly covering himself in glory here but I know it would get thrown back in my face as soon as Christian Romero does inevitably something stupid.
 

Silverdude2167

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 9, 2006
4,684
Amstredam
Just so I am clear, did anyone else think there should have been a foul for holding the keeper on the second goal? Am I insane for thinking that was 100% a clear foul?
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,729
Incredible crowd. So happy for Brentford and their fans. This is going to be a special season for them.
 

Section30

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2010
1,260
Portland OR
It should have been holding the keeper on the second, but Arsenal looked so disjointed I wasn't expecting them to score in the game.

Other than Smith-Rowe I didn't see much desire out of Arsenal.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,671
NBC does a great job post game just showing shots of the crowd and the players without any commentary.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2008
42,278
AZ
NBC does a great job post game just showing shots of the crowd and the players without any commentary.
This is true. But also I could have produced that end game.

That was a tough spot for Arsenal but having fans back made that a pretty awesome sight. Watch that second goal be the only goal off a throw in for the whole year.
 

Tuff Ghost

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
652
The first match of a new season is always exciting, but add Balogun, Martinelli, and Lokonga to the starting XI (plus White- but he was fully expected), and I am amped and pumped and stoked for this one, regardless of outcome. COYG.
Ouch, I just noticed my three word typo. I misspelled “I am deflated and I am dispirited and I am melancholy.” Ha.

Tierney and Smith Rowe played pretty well, and Sambi’s passing intrigued me. I think they could possibly have a nice young midfielder in him, someone who can actually contribute to the attack. When he had the ball in the attacking third, it felt like he had the vision and touch to make things happen.

Besides that, it was a rough night from an Arsenal perspective (and joyous and wonderful from a Brentford perspective). I hope Gabriel gets healthy soon because Mari did not look great.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
Even without the goal, Bruno looks like last year's early season version. He was so burnt out last year. One of the keys of the season will be managing his minutes. He can't play every week twice per week again.