Could Arsenal get revenge for the damaging opening day defeat?
During the first half, despite total domination and intensity, the answer appeared not.
Thoughts turned to a mercenary forward, any mercenary forward; Diego Costa, perhaps, to put those chances away? A professional goal-scorer. A Giroud type substitute who could at least get his head to those crosses.
The Premiership record for the number of shots in a first half was broken, at 16. But conversely the record for the number of shots off target – and there were only two which worked, one time Arsenal target Raya in goal.
Too many times there were passes in and around the box to a player in a worse position. It showed a lack of confidence.
There were plenty of high crosses. But they were all gobbled up by the three centre backs, Pinnock, Ajer, and Jansson who towered above Lacazette. Their mixed man-to-man and zonal system seemed to be working.
And it was one of those games where you thought Brentford may well nick a goal, the longer it went on 0-0. They had counters – but luckily the execution was poor.
Smith Rowe came in as a natural fit for the suspended Martinelli on the left.
Ex-Arsenal apprentice, Josh Dasilva came into a midfield five for Brentford.
It was their first visit since the forties but were on the back foot from the start. Saka and Smith Rowe were prominent on either wing.
There were penalty shouts on Lacazette and White in the same move – both denied by VAR. Then Xhaka was offside as Lacazette slid it home.
At the other end, Wissa lobbed Ramsdale who watched it fly past the upright and bar.
Partey’s passing sometimes gave cause for concern.
Near half-time Wissa used his elbow to stop a Cedric shot, and for the third time VAR denied a penalty – leading to increased frustration inside the Emirates.
But soon after half-time, Smith Rowe went on a brilliant run, cutting in from the left, beating two defenders and curling a shot into Raya’s left-hand side of the net. It was his 10th in all competitions this season and relieved the mounting tension.
Xkaka won a challenge and Saka sent in a shot on target – saved low down by Raya.
Mbeumo was sent in one on one with Ramsdale, by Jansson, but failed to control it – reminding the home team the precariousness of a 1-0 scoreline.
Lacazette tussled for a long ball, Odegaard took it on but Pepe, on for a tiring Smith Rowe, and reportedly excellent in training after excelling at Afcon, couldn’t tap it home.
Partey broke clear and delaying his pass carefully set Saka away, and the England international found the same area of Raya’s goal with a curved shot, to make the points safe.
With seconds remaining, a scramble in the Arsenal area resulted in Norgaard firing into the net, with VAR favouring the away side on an offside call.
It underlined the need for an Arsenal player to reliably put some of those chances in the ‘onion bag’.
Asked what was different about Arsenal from the first game, Mikel Arteta said that difficult periods make you stronger.
Emile Smith Rowe said he is working hard on finishing in training, adding: “The rest of team were really good today.”
Premier League: Arsenal 2 Brentford 1
Arsenal: 32Ramsdale, 17Cédric Soares, 4White, 6Gabriel (Booked at 86mins), 3Tierney. 5Partey, 34Xhaka, 7Saka, 8Ødegaard, 10Smith Rowe (Substituted for Pépé at 75’minutes), 9Lacazette (Substituted for Nketiah at 84’minutes)
Brentford: 1Raya, 20Ajer, 18Jansson (Booked at 81mins), 5Pinnock, 7Canós (Substituted for Ghoddos at 84’minutes), 10Dasilva (Substituted for Baptiste at 68’minutes), 6Nørgaard, 8Jensen (Substituted for Janelt at 44’minutes), 3Henry, 19Mbeumo, 11Wissa