Brentford vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

Action from the Brentford Community Stadium as the new Premier League season got under way with a bang

Christian Norgaard celebrates Brentford’s second goal (Getty Images)

Brentford announced their arrival in the Premier League in style as goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard secured a memorable 2-0 win over Arsenal.

A below-par Gunners side missing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette were deservedly beaten in the season’s opener.

The Bees, promoted via the play-offs last season, have finally come full circle as their last match in the top flight, in May 1947, was a 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal.

Seventy four years is a long time to wait to get your own back and the Community Stadium - which opened a year ago amidst lockdown - was rocking as 16,479 fans, most of whom were not able to witness their promotion, finally got the chance to celebrate.

Brentford vs Arsenal

• Arsenal without unwell Aubameyang and Lacazette
• 21 min: Sergi Canos fires Brentford in front
• 73 min: Norgaard heads home Brentford’s second

[13 August 2021 19:20 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford vs Arsenal

Brentford will be aiming to get their season off to a perfect start with a win and the key to their success could lie in Ivan Toney.

He was their stand-out player in their stellar campaign last term, scoring 31 goals in 45 games.

His first test in the Premier League comes in 40 minutes, can he and Brentford maintain their form?

[13 August 2021 19:16 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford vs Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has spoken ahead of the match.

He told Sky Sports: “We have a really young team, it’s full of excitement and energy.

“[Balogan’s] pre-season has been really good, chances come at different times in your career.”

On Xhaka captaining the side: “He has shown his commitment to the club and he represent every value of the club. He has everyone’s respect.”

(PA Wire)

[13 August 2021 19:12 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford vs Arsenal

The team news just announced means Brentford will debut two new signings in Onyeka and Ajer, with Wissa on the bench.

While for the Gunners White and Sambi making their league debuts for the club with Taveres on the bench.

Another league debut for the London club is Balogun, who has played for them in the Europa League.

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

[13 August 2021 19:04 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford v Arsenal

Both teams have announced their team news for this evening!

The starting XI for the hosts Brentford are: Raya, Ajer, Jansson (C), Pinnock, Canós, Janelt, Nørgaard, Onyeka, Henry, Mbeumo, Toney.

While Arsenal’s are: Leno, Chambers, White, Mari, Tierney, Xhaka, Sambi, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Balogun, Martinelli

[13 August 2021 18:55 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford v Arsenal

Yoane Wissa signed for Brentford this week in a four-year deal and the star could make his Premier League debut for the club this evening.

The winger joined from Ligue 1 side Lorient-Bretagne Sud for an undisclosed fee.

He is among a whole host of signings for the newly promoted side as Nathan Young-Coombes, Dom Jefferies, Jude Russell, Frank Onyeka, Kristoffer Ajer and Myles Peart-Harris have penned deals.

[13 August 2021 18:47 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford v Arsenal

Brentford are getting excited to make their league debut this evening...

How are you feeling Bees fans?

[13 August 2021 18:38 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford vs Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised Brentford earlier this week ahead of their Premier League opener.

The Bees are taking their first step into the top flight in their game against the Gunners after multiple attempts to secure promotion.

He said: “If you look historically at what they’ve done in the last few years there’s a very clear direction,” our manager said.

“I think from top to bottom of the club they know what they want to do and they execute it really well. I think they will be a really tough opponent for every team in the Premier League.

“[I like] the clarity in what they do. They’ve been doing it for a long time together and you can see they have that fluidity and chemistry between them, and they believe that the plan they’ve put in place works for them. I think that’s a big strength for any team.”

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

[13 August 2021 18:27 · Sarah Rendell]

Premier League: Brentford v Arsenal

The first match of the Premier League season kicks off at 8pm as Brentford take on Arsenal.

New signings may get a league debut for their clubs with official team news being revealed around 7pm.

In the meantime, we have put together a piece that has all the information you need for this game this evening.

[13 August 2021 16:05 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Brentford vs Arsenal

Brentford begin life in the Premier League against Arsenal tonight as the new season gets under way. The Bees are back in the top flight of English football after more than 70 years away, and are hoping to make an immediate impact in a London derby to raise the curtain on the 2021/22 Premier League campaign in front of a packed house, as full stadiums return.

Brentford came up through the play-offs fired by the goals of striker Ivan Toney, and Thomas Frank has added to his squad with the signing of Norwegian centre-back Kristoffer Ajer, Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka and winger Yoane Wissa. “We are proud, we are excited, we can’t wait – but we want to go out there and prove ourselves. The players are elite sportsmen and we, as staff, want to win. There is no satisfaction in getting into the Premier League and doing badly.”

Arsenal have added England international defender Ben White to their squad for £50m but are still on the hunt for attacking reinforcements and a goalkeeper too. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are both unavailable tonight through illness, but Mikel Arteta will be keen to get off to a good start after a mixed campaign last year.