Brentford Town of England summer signing, Frank Onyeka had an evening to remember, as he got 90 minutes of action and ended with victory against an Arsenal side that featured Bukayo Saka and Folarin Balogun.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Onyeka and Balogun both started the game at opposing ends, while Saka got off The Gunners’ bench in the second half, yet the lad with the last laugh was the Super Eagles’ rookie.
Such it was that Onyeka not only celebrated a 2-0 win for his side on their debut in the English Premier League, he also ended the evening with seven points out of ten, while Balogun and Saka could only manage five apiece.
That meant both personal and collective bragging rights for Onyeka, who only joined The Bess officially last month from FC Midtjylland of Denmark, but created a buzz with his stunning form in pre-season and a well-taken goal the previous weekend.
Onyeka combined well with his new teammates in midfield and across the park, as Brentford marked their Premier League bow with a memorable 2-0 victory over a tepid Arsenal on the opening night of the new season.
That came despite Brentford’s starting 11 at kick-off having had only a combined 10 minutes of EPL experience in Ivan Toney.
Brentford’s coach, Thomas Frank had promised to be bold this season, and after his side received a raucous welcome in west London, it was the hosts who had the advantage in the first half.
Frank went with a back three and handed a debut to new signing Kristoffer Ajer in defence, while fellow new signing Onyeka also was handed a start in midfield after scoring in the pre-season win over Valencia of Spain.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette ill, Mikel Arteta handed 20-year-olds Gabriel Martinelli and Balogun starts, as well as debuts for Ben White and Albert Lokonga. Granit Xhaka was named captain.
Having failed to register a touch in the final third in the first 10 minutes, Frank gestured to urge his side to push higher, and he was immediately rewarded.
Amid a celebratory atmosphere for Brentford’s first top-flight game since 1947, and the first in front of a full house at their new stadium, Bryan Mbeumo hit the post from an angle on the right of the box.
The Bees then took the lead as Sergi Canos caught out Bernd Leno with a flashed, near-post effort from 15 yards in the 22nd minute.
The Gunners rallied briefly in the second half but failed to find a leveler, and found themselves 2-0 down through Christian Norgaard’s header following poor defending from a long throw with 17 minutes remaining.
Arsenal’s defence, including new £50m signing Ben White, were struggling to deal with Brentford’s high press and running in behind, but they came out brighter in the second half as Emile Smith Rowe’s wonderful turn, run and shot was tipped away by David Raya.
Balogun, who looked quite promising on his nEPL debut, was replaced on the hour mark by Saka, who was given an ovation by all four stands after a memorable Euro 2020 with England for both the right and wrong reasons.
Kieran Tierney’s deflected effort flew inches wide of the post shortly after, as did Granit Xhaka’s lashed effort at the far post, but Brentford got their second with just over 15 minutes remaining.
From Mads Bech Sorensen’s long throw, Toney got ahead of White for the flick on, allowing Norgaard to simply head home a few yards out.
At the end, it was the opening of a new chapter in Brentford’s history as they rode the wave of emotion to get their first ever season in the EPL off to the perfect start with a faultless display.
Frank later told Sky Sports: “The fans were amazing, what an atmosphere. I’m a bit speechless. First time in the top flight.
“We’re opening the Premier League season, fans can dream we’re number one in the Premier League. It’s a fantastic story.
“We’re just a bus stop in Hounslow, we’re not supposed to be here. We will celebrate every win, but we want more.
“I think the players today were amazing, they ran themselves to the ground, played with intensity, they were brave and pressed high constantly.
“On set-pieces I thought we were better, that’s why we did long throws and at times we could go high and knew that we could win the ball and create chances.
“Ivan (Toney) has an unbelievable character and mentality and he has such a presence on the pitch. How many duels he wins… he can link-up and press for the team. He is very important to us.
“Bryan (Mbuemo) did a good job of stretching them, of going one-v-one and with his pace he is a big threat.”
