A thrilling performance from Brentford against (current) league leaders Arsenal ended in a 1-1 draw that many home fans felt was the footballing equivalent of highway robbery. Here are Nick Bruzon’s player ratings.
The Bees were magnificent at the back. Electric on the counterattack. Matching their big-money rivals blow for blow. Pass for pass. Chance for chance. Goal for goal. The game opening up as it went on.
KLP’s goal ten minutes after Noni Madueke had given the visitors a slender advantage on the hour mark, sparking unrivalled scenes of joy. Enough about Keith Andrews and Jordan Henderson, though. The players and fans enjoyed that one equally so.
It was the very least that Brentford’s performance deserved, even though we all know that’s not how football works. Despite the Gunners dominating possession and proving a really tough nut to crack, it was the Bees who had the better chances. Igor Thiago in particular.
The striker must still be wondering how on earth David Raya was able to keep his first-half header out. The fans were already on their feet, celebrating ‘goal’ until the ‘keeper pulled off the most incredible of point-blank saves.
A wonderful passage of play all round that summed up the resilience of the pretenders to the throne. Their lead may be shrinking every week, but they were hanging on to it with sheer desperation. By fair means or foul.
‘Referee’ John Brooks having another stinker to actually slip below the low bar he set in our previous coming together at Newcastle United on Saturday. Cards waved around with impunity when nothing warranted – Vitaly and Dango in particular – yet staying firmly in pocket when there was genuine foul play.
How Gabriel didn’t receive a second booking with the Bees cranking up the pressure in the second half, I’ll never know. Ouattara clearly scythed, yet the referee choosing to spot nothing. Not so much Angel Gabriel as lucky devil.
It wasn’t just that, though.
Throw-ins treated with an approach of ‘wherever your boys fancy, Mr Arteta’ rather than ‘over there, where it actually went out’.
Arsenal’s aggression and time wasting allowed to continue unchecked.
Much as we love David Raya, the ridiculous restart routine from the corner of the six-yard box quickly became nothing more than tedious, clock-killing game management
I’m all for letting a game flow, but it needs to be within the confines of the rules rather than a so-called ‘big club’ being allowed to dictate the way it is played. On the plus side, at least the Bees gave as good as they got when defending corner kicks. Something all the more pleasing given the way the opener had been conceded at St. James’ Park.
The whinging and bitter tears from Arsenal fans about a tactic their own team use with abandon, something that, had she been watching, I have no doubt Alanis Morissette might have added to her list of things that are actually ironic.
It added a huge layer of injustice to the whole evening, yet equally so, made the performance in the face of adversity all the more enjoyable. Keith Andrews should be rightly proud about the way his team played in a game where, albeit the opposition made it hard to carve out opportunity, the chances were there to turn one point into three.
Thiago twice bursting clear in the second half and ultimately going for goal when, on reflection, the better option may have been to release the onrushing Ouattara to his right. I did feel for Dango, who worked so hard all night, although no complaints whatsoever about Igor having the self-belief to take it on himself. Besides, you have to give the Arsenal backline credit for the way they threw themselves in front of everything and at (sometimes through) everyone.
The Brentford number 9 with another chance late on, where he thumped it across the face of goal. For a moment, it was heading to the top corner, but then continued on the same trajectory, and a relieved Raya watched it go past.
Arsenal had their moments, too. The opening goal a frustrating one, as much because there had been perhaps an air of inevitability about it. The Bees’ backline able to only withstand so much pressure from a rejuvenated Gunners outfit after the restart.
Kelleher moving one way to follow the ball across and then simply unable to alter direction in time for his dive as Madueke headed back in the direction it had come. No fault to our ‘keeper who did his very best to claw it out but couldn’t quite shift momentum in time to reach it.
The gut punch of going one down matched by the objectionable away support finally waking from their snooze. Voices briefly raised in celebration, even if there was perhaps some confusion about what to do without the clue of a giant flag waving around. Their usual indicator that a goal had been scored, and they were allowed to shout.
It made KLP’s equaliser, coming from a Kayode throw being flicked into the back-post zone, all the sweeter. Moreso, given he’d almost scored from an identical position minutes earlier. Opening up the Arsenal defence as easily as a can of tuna, but then guiding Jensen’s corner just the wrong side of the post.
1-1 it stayed, despite Thiago’s best efforts. Despite the substitutions from Keith, who again deserves maximum credit for having his team play so tightly at the back, but then so dynamically on the drive forwards. Not so much a case of push up Brentford as pedal to the metal and ghost past anything in the way, Brentford.
Yet perhaps the unsung hero of the night, and I say this as much because (spoiler alert) there’s no room for him in our top five, goes to Caoimhín Kelleher. How Martinelli didn’t seal the win at the death is something I’ll never know.
Set free close in, there was only the Bees’ ‘keeper in his way. It was odds on a goal for sure, but, instead, Kelleher came rushing out and diverted the ball away with wrists of sheer steel. An absolute world-class save and one as much to rival Raya’s from earlier. If anything, better.
Raya’s was magnificent but also sheer instinct. This had needed decision-making to go with the ability. Thankfully, he made the right call, and the Bees were able to go home with a point. To end the game empty-handed would have felt about as harsh as it comes.
So, talking of the top five, let’s move on. Our game-by-game search for Brentford’s player of the season. As always, five points being awarded for star player, four for second place, three for third, etc., with the totals added up game-by-game to see who ends up the eventual winner after game 38.
This time around, the choices are as tough as they come. Everybody deserving entry. Most players deserving five points. That’s not how it works, though, and so instead, let’s grit those teeth and try some accurate decision-making. If only Mr Brooks could have done the same.
1st (five points) Sepp van den Berg
Wow. Wasn’t he absolutely immense at the back.
We were singing his praises all the way through the game and on the way home, too. Subsequently found out he scooped the EPL MOTM award, too, but it was thoroughly deserved given the way he dominated the box. The way Arsenal saw opportunity closed out.
His post-match stats made beautiful reading. Five clearances. 90% pass completion. That one, glorious block. Not to mention his assist for KLP’s equaliser.
The talk on these pages in the build-up was about the attacking threat Arsenal posed. 7 (seven) goals without reply in their last two League games. Sepp played a huge part in ensuring that came to an abrupt halt – at each end
2nd (four points) Michael Kayode
What a game from the flying full-back.
Let’s start by talking about the rampaging wildebeest in the room – his long throws. As predictable as Nottingham Forest sacking their manager or Leeds United falling apart. Again. We all know they are coming, yet they remain, at times, undefendable. Sepp got the flick on, but the goal game from Michael’s throw, no question.
Arteta, whose hair shone so, so black under the lights that he’d have given Figo a run for his money, must have been close to tearing it out in frustration about becoming the latest side undone by Kayode’s howitzer from the touchline.
It wasn’t just this, though. He was brutally fast up the right-hand flank. Tough in the tackle. Never giving up a lost cause. Snapping at anyone who came near him or tried to make their way through. One second-half run saw him go and go until the goal was in sight. Again, denied by defending as well as his own.
Yet my own standout moment was at 1-0 down. The much-maligned Gyökeres finding rare space in the Brentford box and seemed sure to double the lead. That is, until Kayode came out of nowhere, behind and around him, to whip the ball to safety before the hapless ‘striker’ knew what had happened.
What a man. What a game.
3rd (three points) Kris Ajer
Sepp may have scooped star player, but he was by no means alone at the back.
Kris, alongside him, has been in cracking form the last few games. You must be doing something right to keep Nathan Collins out, and this was yet another demonstration as to why.
Joint top of the tackle count with Kayode, but more importantly, pretty much water-tight at the back. There was nothing anybody could have done about Madueke’s effort. He connected perfectly. Yet for the visitors to see their attacking intent snuffed out so categorically was down to our centre-back pairing.
Everybody is talking about Raya and the miserly Arsenal defence. How about a bit of praise in this direction? Sepp may have scooped the top slot, but Kris was right there alongside him all night
4th (two points) Rico Henry
Four out of four to the Brentford defence. Whilst Rico may not have been as ‘in your face’ as Michael, he was equally pivotal up the other side.
Nobody really getting past him. Confident and skilful when turning defence into attack. Something that had to be done a fair bit given the visitor’s two-third’s possession by full time. His passing and movement phenomenal, and so lovely to see him back to his very best in recent weeks.
On any other day, he’d have been way higher than fourth, if viewed in isolation. To still be in the top five on a night where the whole team could have argued for a place, still no small feat.
5th (one point) Keane Lewis-Potter
It has to go to KLP. Tough decisions, of course. I thought Vitaly in particular had a blinder and pushed him close. Dango did so much running for so little reward and should at least have been able to wave Gabriel off after outpacing him.
We’ll give it to KLP, though. The right man in the right place at the right time, perhaps. However, he got the goal. Might have had a second. Worked his socks off all night. Made Keith’s decision about what to do when Kevin Schade returns from suspension even harder.
What a lovely problem to be giving his boss. Well done, KLP
All of which means Michael Kayode reclaims the top spot he held for so long, albeit the margin is as slender as they come. With The Bees still seventh, hot on the heels of Liverpool and Chelsea ahead of them, anything can change next time out when Brighton visit.
Bring it on, again!
- 1st Michael Kayode. 46 points
- 2nd Igor Thiago. 45 points
- 3rd Caoimhín Kelleher. 33 points
- 4th Mikkel Damsgaard. 30 points
- 5th Vitaly Janelt. 29 points
