Brentford announced themselves to the Premier League with a landmark victory over Arsenal on Friday night.
The opening weekend of the Premier League season was appropriately exciting considering the return of fans to stadiums.
We saw a glut of goals and a glut of wins. Of the twenty games played, there were no draws. Ten wins, ten losses – 7 home wins, and three away wins.
Manchester United hammered Leeds 5 – 1, Chelsea breezed past Crystal Palace 3 – 0. Liverpool dispatched newly promoted Norwich 3 – 0.
You could be forgiven for thinking that normal service has resumed, with the monied teams dominating. Even a surprise 1 – 0 Spurs win over Manchester City didn’t whet the romantic whistle, considering the transfer saga surrounding Harry Kane, who will likely move to City because they are the only team who can afford him.
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Enter Brentford, who showed us all why we still love football. In the curtain raiser, Brentford beat Arsenal 2 – 0 in their first top flight game in 74 years.
It was the first time fans have been allowed into their brand-new stadium, just in time for their promotion to the Premier League. The team gave a determined, energetic performance, and were too much for the floundering Arsenal.
Brentford are a team who have no business beating Arsenal in the league. A data-led approach to tactics and recruitment have seen them finally promoted from the Championship. An opening day victory against one of the (albeit sleeping) giants of English football is a statement that even the small teams can compete if they have the right philosophy.
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The Bees won’t win every game, of course. In fact, they’ll probably lose most games. However, their fans, and most neutrals, will be rooting for them to avoid relegation this year.
Brentford’s next game is against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
