The 2021-22 English Premier League season will kick-off at Brentford Community stadium with the newly promoted Bees playing host to Arsenal.
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The 2021-22 English Premier League campaign gets underway at Brentford Community Stadium on Friday night. Newly promoted Brentford will play host to London rivals Arsenal. The Bees will be playing in the English top-flight football for the first time since 1947 whereas Arsenal prepare for a campaign without European football. Thomas Frank’s side defeated Swansea City in the playoffs final on May 29 courtesy of goals from Ivan Toney and Emiliano Marcondes to end their 74-year wait for top-flight football.
Frank, who took charge of the team in 2018, has been doing a fabulous job and they even achieved some good results against the big boys. An impressive 2-2 draw against Manchester United and victories over fellow top-flight outfits Watford and Valencia.
Brentford achieved an impressive nine games unbeaten run during the business end of the Championship season and became the 50th different team to play in the Premier League.
On the other end, for Arsenal, it would be a season like no other as the Gunners failed to qualify for European football for the first time in 25 years.
Mikel Arteta’s side was well in the race for a berth in the inaugural European Conference League but Spurs produced a stunning victory against Leicester City to finish above Arsenal and grab the final European spot last season. Therefore the Spanish boss’ future at Emirates will depend on how the team will perform for the rest of the calendar year.
To add to their concerns, the Gunners did not have the ideal pre-season preparation, losing to Chelsea, Spurs, and Hibernian.
David Raya will occupy the goal with three defenders in front of him – Pontus Jansson, Ethan Pinnock and new signing Kristoffer Ajer.
Norgaard and Vitaly Janet are expected to be the two midfielders, with Mads Roerslev and Sergi Canos playing as wing-backs.
Meanwhile, striker Toney, who scored 33 goals in the last season to help Brentford to the promotion, will continue to be the main man up front. He will be supported by Bryan Mbeumo and Tariqe Fosu-Henry will play slightly behind the front two in a more creative role.
The Gunners have been dealt with a major injury blow as Thomas Partey will miss the rest of the month with an ankle injury, therefore Mohamed Elneny is likely to come in for the Ghanian defensive midfielder.
New signing Ben White is likely to start in the central defence alongside Pablo Mari. Meanwhile, Callum Chambers is likely to get the nod ahead of Hector Bellerin in the right-back and Kieran Tierney will occupy the left-back position.
Emil Smith Rowe is a sure starter in the attack with Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang supporting Lacazette up front.
