ARSENAL have comfort at home to Brentford after Bukayo Saka doubled their lead.
Emile Smith Rowe gave the Gunners a second half lead after a brilliant solo run and finish.
And Brentford had thought Arsenal’s second goal should have been ruled out for a foul by Alexandre Lacazette.
And in a bizarre incident Granit Xhaka REFUSED to wear the captain’s armband after Lacazette was taken off, giving it to Kieran Tierney instead.
The Gunners kicked off their season with a one-sided 2-0 loss at Brentford, in the Bees first Premier League game.
- Kick-off time: 3pm
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- TV channel: Unfortunately the game is not available to watch in the UK due to Uefa’s blackout rule.
- Arsenal line-up: Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Lacazette, Smith Rowe.
- Brentford line-up: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Canos, Jensen, Norgaard, Da Silva, Henry, Mbeumo, Wissa.
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Arsenal 2-0 Brentford – Bees free-kick
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Three minutes of additional time to be played!
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Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
86. The clock is just winding down now but Mikel Arteta is still shouting orders at his men trying to get them over the line.
He is one animated manager.
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Arsenal 2-0 Brentford – Xhaka refused the captains armband!
83. Alexandre Lacazette handed Eddie Nketia the captains armband to give to Granit Xhaka.
But the Swiss captain refused to take it which led to the Frenchman giving it to Kieran Tierney instead.
What drama.
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Arsenal 2-0 Brentford – Arsenal sub
82. Mikel Arteta believes that the skipper has contributed enough so the Gunners boss drags him off.
- Alexandre Lacazette – OFF
- Eddie Nketiah – ON
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Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
80. Just as the game was beginning to get stretched and Brentford were building up some momentum, Arsenal put the nail in the coffin by doubling their lead.
It’s not over until it’s over but that should be enough for the Gunners to the win.
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Goal! – Saka makes it two for the Gunners!
Arsenal hit the Bees on the counter courtesy of Thomas Partey who drove through the middle of the park.
The Ghanaian powerhouse did well to delay his pass to Bukayo Saka before perfectly picking him out.
And then the English youngster smashed his shot past David Raya.
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford – Chance wasted!
75. Martin Odegaard had the chance to slide Nicolas Pepe in for what would have been a goal with his first shot.
But the Norwegian executed the pass all wrong allowing his international teammate Kristoffer Ajer to get back into position and block it.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford – Mikel Arteta makes a sub
71. The Gunners boss has decided to throw Arsenal’s record signing into the mix.
- Emile Smith Rowe – OFF
- Nicolas Pepe – ON
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
70. The Bees are finally beginning to grow into the game by forcing Arsenal back into their own half.
This game is becoming more intriguing.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford – OOO that was close!
67. Christian Norgaard slipped a delightful ball in behind the Arsenal defence but Bryan Mbuemo was unable to take it in his stride by a fraction.
That was a reminder of what the Bees can do and Thomas Frank will want to see more of that.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford – Bees sub
66. The Brentford manager rolls the dice.
- Josh Dasilva – OFF
- Shandon Baptiste – ON
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
65. Thomas Frank is preparing to make his first substitution of the day which will hopefully shake things up for the Bees.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
62. This has to be one of Arsenal’s most comfortable games of the season so far.
Aaron Ramsdale hasn’t had a save to make up to this point.
Complete and utter domination.
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He’s making Emile of it
Emile Smith Rowe grabs the opportunity to start with both hands by scoring his 9th goal of the season.
Credit: PA 
Credit: Reuters
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
55. Jonathan Moss has let Cedric off the hook there because on another day, he could have been sent for an early bath.
But today, the Arsenal full-back has just received a talking to.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford – Cedric could be in trouble!
54. The Portuguese international went flying in on Rico Henry with a terrible challenge leaving his opponent in a heap on the floor.
With Arsenal red card record, it might not be good.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
51. Arsenal are hunting for the second as they continue controlling large amounts of possession.
The Emirates is buzzing.
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Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
47. The perfect start to the second half for Mikel Arteta’s men who didn’t need a cross to score a goal after all.
Whatever the boss said at half time has worked.
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Goal! – Smith Rowe puts Arsenal in the lead!
Emile Smith Rowe continues he phenomenal goal scoring run this season.
The Englishman cut inside from the left hand side and best it past David Raya in the bottom right hand corner.
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
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Second half – Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
And we are back at the Emirates for the second 45.
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Brief summary of the first 45
There wasn’t much to shout about within the opening half of the game in all honesty.
Arsenal completely dominated from the first whistle putting a numerous amount of pressure on the Bees defence without really causing a major threat in front of goal.
Alexandre Lacazette did have his effort ruled out due to offside and the Gunners had a couple of penalty appeals but Jonathan Moss wasn’t interested.
Hopefully we get a more entertaining second 45 where Brentford put up more of a fight.
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Opening half based on numbers
The Gunners have dominated every statistic on the board by a landslide and the Bees haven’t got anywhere near them.
But the one which stands out the most is the amount of crosses they have put in.
A staggering 32 crosses!
I think the players have forgotten that Olivier Giroud doesn’t represent them anymore.
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Half time – Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
Not the blockbuster performance we expected at the Emirates so far from either side.
If anything, it has been a tale full of corners and crosses instead.
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Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
45+2. There’s been no way through for Arsenal this half because the Bees have stood firm.
Mikel Arteta is going to have to do something in the second half otherwise this will be an opportunity missed for his side.