Arsenal Fall to First Pre-Season Defeat Against Brentford

Arsenal 1-2 Brentford: Gunners fall to first defeat of pre-season behind closed doors

Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 22, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by fellow Premier League side Brentford in a behind-closed-doors friendly as preparations gear up for the league opener away at Crystal Palace.

The Gunners saw their undefeated pre-season come to an abrupt end against Brentford. Played behind closed doors at London Colney, Mikel Arteta’s side were beaten 2-1 thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Ryan Trevitt.

It was a much-changed Gunners side as Arteta wanted to hand some game time to the squad players. Matt Turner, Cedric, Rob Holding, Nuno Tavares, Mohamed Elneny, Sambi Lokonga, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, new boy Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah all saw substantial game time.

Arsenal fall to first pre-season defeat against Brentford

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The Bees took an early lead through Mbeumo after some great work from Trevitt, who produced a nice centering ball that found Mbeumo, who slotted past Turner in goal.

Nketiah brought the Gunners level. After some good work from Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the ball found its way to Nketiah, who lashed home his shot. It was the Englishman’s fifth pre-season goal as he looks to continue on his excellent late-season form of last year.

Just before the break, Thomas Frank’s men were ahead again through Trevitt, who took a controlled touch and placed his shot to perfection past Turner in goal.

That is how the score would stay as the Gunners piled on the pressure in the second half but could not find a breakthrough.

Arsenal has one more pre-season game before the real stuff starts as they host Sevilla in the Emirates Cup Final on Friday. The Gunners will face off against Crystal Palace the following Friday to open up the new Premier League season at Selhurst Park.

It is unknown what the team’s makeup will be, but we will get a good idea when we see the team sheet for the Sevilla clash. Most of the first team played against Chelsea, so expect something similar against the Spanish side.

It does feel like time is flying as just over a month ago, Arsenal kicked off its pre-season preparations against Ipswich Town to now being so close to the season beginning.

[Proper] Football is nearly here.