Matchweek 26, the midweek sequence of games squeezed in between the FA Cup fourth round and Champions League qualifying, concludes on Thursday evening when Brentford host Arsenal. The Gunners are top of the current form table with the Bees second. Nick Bruzon previews.
The teams having secured 23 and 20 points respectively out of a possible 30 from the last 10 games played. It is data that goes all the way up to last night and the latest defeat experienced by Spurs.
Then again, this would come as no surprise for anybody who has had the pleasure of watching Keith Andrews’ side in recent weeks. The last two games, the away wins at Aston Villa and then Newcastle United on Saturday, both carved out in the most intimidating of circumstances. The Bees showing a mental fortitude and, the latter especially, level of relentless attacking drive that were a joy to behold.
Talk about never say die and what a reward! The points aside, Wissa given a sound demonstration that the grass isn’t greener (even if the money is) as the Bees moved up to 7th in the table.
It almost got one better on Sunday evening. Liverpool’s invoking of their inner Leeds United had the Bees temporarily placed in sixth. A one-goal advantage over Manchester City on the 84th minute turned into a 3-1 reverse by the point the game reached last knockings of time added on.
With it, the team from West London moving ahead of Liverpool by the narrowest of goal difference margins. Then, VAR did its thing and denied not only the most hilarious of goals but also that extra position gained. It would have been dreamland for Brentford, not the first time that phrase has been used at Anfield, but sadly not to be this time.
It is long-term that counts more rather than a flash in the pan moment. That we are even talking about such a possibility shows how well The Bees are doing. Arsenal, too, to be fair. It looked as though their characteristic wobble had set in recently, with no win in three. Then, they beat Leeds Untied 4-0 and Sunderland 3-0. Normal service resumed.
Yet with Manchester City winning that game on Sunday, the gap at the top is down to six points. They play tonight at home to Fulham, where one would hope victory is as nailed on as they might come. For more than one reason.
Should that result transpire, then the deficit is a mere three points going into a game that will be nowhere as easy as it might seem to the visiting support. Could the nerves strike again?
Team-wise, Brentford have the luxury of choice. Whilst neither manager has given a press conference, they aren’t normally worth the paper they are written on anyway. Keith Andrews well noted for keeping any significant news under his hat. What we can say is that nobody seemed in trouble up at St. James’ Park, whilst there was the bonus of seeing Mikkel Damsgaard back in action after that brief hiatus.
Dango Ouattara, in particular, had a blinder with able support coming from KLP on the other side of an attacking trio, for which Igor Thiago netted again. With Vitaly (or Vitterly, as MOTD have christened him – perhaps they were missing last season’s shriek of Booo-mooo) and Mathias both in the form of their life, it seems a choice between Yarmo and Jordan Henderson for that final midfield berth.
What a problem to have. It isn’t the only decision Keith will have to make, but all of his selection challenges are nothing but nice. The form of our more experienced players given the bench a strength in depth that is almost verging on luxurious.
Let’s not underestimate Arsenal. One has to doff a cap to just how well they are playing this season. How consistently strong they have been. The wonderful form that David Raya in nets demonstrating. The miserly defence. The strength of Declan Rice. The goals from all round the team. The amazing bench-warming skills of £10m Christian Norgaard.
I was gutted when he left over the summer, but can understand why. No matter how things have worked out since (the genius that is Matthew Benham striking again). That our former skipper has barely had a look in for the Gunners seems, on the one hand, an absolute waste of his talents, but on the other shows just how strong they are in the middle of the park. If anything, it demonstrates just how Herculean a task awaits Brentford on Thursday night.
Yet Brentford go into this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Whilst Arsenal find themselves in a ‘who blinks first’ race with a Manchester City side storming up the blindside, most observers had written the Bees off before a ball had been kicked in anger.
Thomas Frank had gone to Spurs (how IS that working out?) and a rookie head coach promoted in his place. Mbeumo, Norgaard, and Flekken all sold. Wissa crying his eyes out until we cashed in on a player who, now, most teams wouldn’t pay 55p for, let alone £55million.
Even now, I’ve this week seen some journos talking about Brentford being safe. Nobody is really talking about the Bees knocking on the door of Europe. Not even Keith Andrews, who won’t be drawn on the subject, beyond his summer holiday plans.
This is a game between the Premier League’s two form sides, but with very differing amounts of pressure riding on them. No matter how good Arsenal are, they’ll know full well the longer-term challenges that will come if they lose. The Bees will be poised to take advantage of this potential and will be coming into the game giving it their all.
I genuinely can’t wait for Thursday night. Even if there has been a change in referee that sees John Brooks now in charge. You may remember him from Saturday’s VAR duty at St. James’ Park. The man who decided KLP hadn’t been fouled by Kieran Tripper when clean, though, but that Bruno Guimarães had when doing his ‘bambi on ice’ thing.
Look positive. We’ve still got this. Besides, if nothing else, the thought of all the ‘performative rage’ from the Arsenal YouTubers who would rather rant at the game over the internet than watch it in person should be inspiration enough.
Come for three points, stay for the prospect of sending them over the edge. Brentford CAN do this – bring it on
