Premier League

BRENTFORD 0
ARSENAL 3 (Saliba 17, Jesus 28, Vieira 49)

ARSENAL stormed back to the top of the Premier League table this afternoon (Sunday) with a comprehensive and one-sided victory at Brentford.

The 3-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium had a little bit of everything for the Gunners as they banished the bruising memories of losing to the Bees on the opening day of last season.

There were stunning goals, disciplined defending, an iconic name in Vieira on the scoresheet and even a record-breaking debut for one of the club’s rising young talents.

The impressive William Saliba sparked the game into life for Mikel Arteta’s side when he climbed highest at the near post to head home Bukayo Saka’s corner.

Gabriel Jesus then doubled Arsenal’s advantage with another well-taken header, adding the finishing touches to a sublime diagonal cross from Granit Xhaka.

Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira, called into the starting line-up for the injured Martin Odegaard, marked his first Premier League start with the goal of the game as he rifled a long-range effort in off the post to ensure Arsenal made it six wins from seven.

Coming around to the idea that the Gunners can achieve more than just a top-four finish, Arteta said: “Today we are top of the league, and I am so happy. Yesterday I was annoyed because we lost it [top spot] and we used that today as we want to get back there and show that we want to be there – and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to push to be the best that we can be and that’s the aim. The table won’t lie after 38 games.”

There was further reason for the travelling Gooners to cheer in stoppage-time as they can say they were there when schoolboy Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever player to play in the Premier League. Aged just 15 years and 181 days, the attacking midfielder was brought on to replace Vieira.

Nwaneri has earned rave reviews from Arsenal’s academy manager Per Mertesacker, and Arteta said it “was a gut feeling” to hand the teenager his debut.

The Gunners boss added: “I met him, he’s trained a couple of times with us. Yesterday he had to come because we had the injuries, especially to Martin, and then I had that feeling from yesterday that if the opportunity could come, I was going to do it, and I just did it.

“It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy, and I really liked what I saw. Obviously Per and the academy staff gave me really good information about him as well.”

Admitting that further appearances might be fleeting, Arteta continued: “It’s another step, another experience. In your career all the steps are not going to be forward. After that, maybe he needs three backwards to go another one forward, but as well I think it sends a really strong message about who we are a as a club.

“We want to give opportunities when there is talent, when there is personality and when there are players that love what they do so much and they have no fear. The doors are open to explore where they can go.”

Brentford: Raya, Hickey, Jansson, Ajer, Mee, Henry, Janelt (Onyeka, 63), Jensen (Baptiste, 69), Dasilva (Damsgaard, 63), Mbeumo (Wissa, 76), Toney
Substitutes not used: Canos, Zanka, Ghoddos, Strakosha, Roerslev

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White (Tomiyasu, 86), Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey (Lokonga, 78), Xhaka, Vieira (Nwaneri, 90+1), Saka (Marquinhos, 90+1), Martinelli (Nketiah, 78), Jesus
Substitutes not used: Turner, Holding, Smith, Lino Sousa