Arsenal: 3 things we’d like to see vs Brentford

As we edge ever closer to the first Premier League match of the season when Arsenal face off against newly-promoted Brentford, there is still much trepidation when it comes to what we have seen both on and off the pitch from the Gunners.

With only three new signings coming in – a fourth is seemingly imminent – and not a single first-team player out permanently (yet), many have questioned what the club is doing with its transfer business.

Then there are the on-field struggles. A pre-season that has largely been underwhelming, with the only victories coming against Watford and Millwall, ended with back-to-back Mind Series defeats to Chelsea and Tottenham.

So, the Gunners will face the Bees with only two new players in line to start in west London in Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga. However, both have seriously impressed during the short time they have had with the club, especially the latter who has looked sharp all summer.

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Arsenal: 3 things we’d like to see from Mikel Arteta’s side vs Brentford in Friday’s opening Premier League outing of the 2021/22 season

The opening match presents a very difficult prospect for Mikel Arteta and his side. A capacity Brentford Community Stadium, a side that is desperate to start its first-ever Premier League campaign off with a win, all make for a perfect storm.

It’s also Friday the 13th. Make of that what you will.

Arsenal have been involved in every Premier League season to date and their record stands at the fourth best of all the sides to have played six or more fixtures on the opening round: in their 29 outings, the Gunners have won 16, drawn six and lost 17 for an average points tally of 1.86.

Can that be improved on? We will have to wait and see. In the mean time, here are three things we’d like to see for the hotly anticipated curtain-raiser against Thomas Frank’s men.

1. Ben White to Continue on From Tottenham Display

Whatever one may think of the £50m deal that brought the English defender to north London from Brighton, it looks like being a solid investment so far. Y’know, based off of two 45 minute outings and, well, on the proviso that there is money to be spent elsewhere. Otherwise, all good!

There was a noticeable change in the Gunners defense when he was on the pitch, particularly against Tottenham.

His pace, ball carrying ability and defensive nous were all on show. Noticeably, everything he did oozed composure, whether ushering his man into less threatening areas and galloping across the turf to cover spaces. Throughout, Ben White made the simple things look…simple.

Likely to be getting a start on Friday night – and hopefully in every Premier League fixture this season – he could be a busy boy in the opening 15 to 20 minutes at least. A strong start from the hosts backed by a raucous crowd could spell an early storm for Arsenal to weather.

White will be called upon regularly as Brentford adopt a fast and attractive brand of football, but it is what he can do for Arsenal going forward that will be one of his biggest assets. His long-range, diagonal passing is something that Arteta should utilize as the Bees often play with three at the back, so there will be space for Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to exploit.

Hopefully that Spurs display, albeit only pre-season, was a sign of what is to come.

2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Finally Finding His Form

The Arsenal skipper has been a shell of the powerhouse that scored 22 league goals in back-to-back seasons in 2018/19 and 2019/20. Netting just 15 times in all competitions last campaign has many Gunners fans scratching their head as to where the prolific goal scorer has gone.

Has age caught up on him? Has his passion waned? Is is a systematic issue?

Being played out of position has contributed to that greatly. Deployed out wide by Arteta during the summer, more often than not, Aubameyang has hardly seen the ball and has not affected the game as we saw against Tottenham on Sunday.

He is of little use to the team picking the ball up in half-spaces or out by the corner flag. Granted, the options have been slim with Saka and Martinelli unavailable, but Aubameyang offers nothing in those zones.

Arteta has to play him centrally, it is as simple as that. Friday night presents the perfect opportunity for the Gabon international to get his season off in the right way. After not scoring a single goal during Arsenal’s summer preparations, the pressure is mounting on Aubameyang to start finding the net.

He simply must convert.

3. Watch the Granit Xhaka and Sambi Lokonga Partnership Perform

With Thomas Partey set to be out until after the international break, the midfield pivot of Granit Xhaka and Albert Lokonga will be Arteta’s go-to choice for the first set of Premier League matches. Well, it should be.

Xhaka has vast experience in the division while, for Lokonga, this will be his first real test of what to expect in England. Having impressed so far in the pre-season, when the real stuff starts, it is completely different. Even if Chelsea and Tottenham pose a different kettle of fish.

Xhaka is the calm distributor and can fill in between centre-back and full-back when Kieran Tierney marauds forward; whereas for Lokonga, he will be used similarly to Partey. Be the force in the middle of the park, progress the ball forward (much like his gorgeous pass for Nicolas Pepe against Chelsea) and break up any dangerous attacks from a Brentford side who will be chomping at the bit to get forward.

That is the normal remit but it will interesting to see whether Arteta does likewise as against Tottenham where Sambi played the deep-lying role and Xhaka was given greater license to venture forward. On paper it should be in reverse, thus it’s an intriguing tactical ploy.

While it’s only one game, you get the sense that this is a big clash for Arteta and Arsenal. With Chelsea and Manchester City to come up next, three points become increasingly vital. A quiet transfer window so far and poor performances do not lend much confidence in the Gunners getting a positive result.

However, should things click, Arsenal have more than enough quality to roll into Brentford Community Stadium and walk out with the three points. They have to.