Arsenal: 4 talking points from Brentford horror show

2. Emile Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney & Bukayo Saka Reliance Remains

When your left-back is your side’s most attacking threat that tells you all you need to know. But, we already knew that, didn’t we?

Tierney was up and down the left flank, whipping in crosses and getting into dangerous positions, often having to deal with being double marked as the Brentford wing-backs did a fantastic job of squeezing the wide players into less threatening positions.

When Bukayo Saka was brought on, he picked up where he had left off from the Euros.

The general reliance on the three is all Arsenal had; anything dangerous going forward would only come from the trio. Saka is, as we all know, brilliant. When introduced, he changed the way Arsenal progressed the ball. There was extra drive and intention.

The Gunners suddenly had more potency going forward and managed to get the ball into dangerous areas. His chemistry with Smith Rowe was back on show.

However, while these three proved to be Arsenal’s best players on the night, it does leave something to be desired from the other players on the pitch. Often looking toothless going forward for the majority of the first half, once Saka was introduced to add to Smith Rowe, the only one with any impetus or penetrative spark, Arsenal looked like…something.

As we have seen over the last 12 or so months, the over-reliance on these young players is not healthy. It’s as you were from last season. Give them the ball and hope.

That’s seriously concerning.