Fabio Vieira’s debut goal helps Arsenal return top in comfortable win over Brentford
Brentford 0-3 Arsenal: The 22-year-old marked his first Premier League start with a stunning goal from distance after first-half headers from Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal climbed back to the top of the Premier League and avenged last year’s humbling at Brentford with a clinical 3-0 victory.
The Gunners were back at the scene of their dismal opening-day defeat last season which pre-empted their worst start to a campaign for 67 years.
But they are a different animal this term and proved it with an organised, inventive display and three well-taken goals from William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira.
Such was Arsenal’s dominance that Mikel Arteta could even afford to give 15-year-old midfielder Ethan Nwaneri a late run-out as a substitute, making him the Premier League’s youngest ever player.
Brentford had put four past Manchester United and five past Leeds at the Gtech Community Stadium in recent weeks but they could not lay a glove on Arsenal, with England new boy Ivan Toney an isolated presence in attack.
As early as the second minute, Gabriel Martinelli passed up a gilt-edged chance by slipping when in front of goal, his mishit shot rolling tamely to Bees keeper David Raya.
However, the Gunners did take the lead on 17 minutes, Saliba’s glancing header from Bukayo Saka’s corner bouncing off the inside of the far post.
Raya tried to scoop it out but the ball was well over the line and referee David Coote’s watch buzzed to indicate a goal.
Eleven minutes later Jesus doubled the lead with another header, this time from a neat chip into the box from Granit Xhaka.
Saka should have made it three moments later after a defensive mix-up but the England winger blazed his shot over.
The second half began in a similar vein and when Saka laid the ball off to Vieira 25 yards out, the Portugal midfielder – on his first Premier League start since his £34m summer switch from Porto – took aim and curled a superb finish in off the post.
Toney’s only real chance came with a free kick, from around the range which he fired home the second goal of his hat-trick against Leeds.
This time the 26-year-old flicked the ball up before taking aim and sent his shot narrowly over the crossbar.
Having set two goals up, Saka fancied one himself but he was denied from the edge of the box by a flying save from Raya.
Toney had tweeted “nice kickabout with the boys” in the aftermath of last season’s win, a message which infuriated Arteta.
The Arsenal fans were quick to remind the striker, ending the match with a rendition of “Ivan Toney, a stroll in the park” while celebrating heading into the international break back on top of the league.
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