Absolutely.

Not going to be easy at all. Feels like it could one of those games where it’s all about winning the second ball.

A win of any kind would be fantastic

Hi Bernard,

I wouldn't want to play them at night under lights. 12pm ko is marginally better because the crowd might be still half asleep (and the players as well) but 2pm, 3pm or 4.30pm are better times I think.

Plus the players undoubtedly have a matchday routine which is interrupted by a very early kick-off.

I always feel that evening kick-offs and midday kick-offs against teams like Brentford are a bit more difficult and are a bit of a levelling out, just like if its really windy or there's torrential rain. At least it looks like being a calm, sunny day today.

Not an excuse at all but just adds an extra degree of difficulty to the game.

15 year old Ethan Nwaneri on the bench for us today.

Obviously won't get on barring an emergency, but imagine if he did. Would he be Arsenal's youngest every player?

Morning socrates. Surely the Brentford players will also have a match day routine that will be just as interrupted as our one. Vociferous crowd? This is Brentford we’re talking about. It’s not Ibrox or Celtic Park. It’s not even White Hart Lane. Indeed, with a 12 noon kick off haven’t the Brentford crowd got less time to get sozzled than they would with a later kick off? That may make them less vociferous?

I just think we have to stop making too much of potential if not imaginary problems. In general Arsenal have better players than Brentford and as I wouldn’t swap Arteta for Frank, I think a better manager. Of course that doesn’t mean we’ll win or even draw as anyone can beat anybody in a one off game. But I’d like to think there’s more chance of Arsenal winning than Brentford.

What’s up with Ødegaard?

It does feel like a distinct possibility somehow, so fair enough for Soc to get his excuses lined up in advance.

15? Blimey. If he does get on I’d have thought he must be. Never heard of him before.

Calf injury. Same as Zinchenko.

I had to look up 17 year old Lino Sousa too.

Thanks - hadn’t heard that one.

I suppose when we are 10-0 up Arteta will give him a few minutes.

Need to be on our toes from the start here, Brentford plays a high aggressive press and will be fired up in front of their home crowd. We struggled a lot with that in this fixture last year, but that was obviously with a completely different back four as both Chambers and Mari started.

Massive game for vieira.

Our midfield 2 need to be in the ball here as well

Close to scoring already, Martinelli fluffed it

Great move should have been a goal - Martinelli just slipped

Weird game so far, feels kind of pedestrian. Not being played with much speed

Not many attacking options in the bench for us if we want to change it

You and me both Thierry, you and me both. Still the king though.

He's that good where he makes the bench? Wow!

Saliba!!

That’ll do nicely. Another corner. Saliba!

SALIBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great to turn overbearing possession into something concrete.

Brentford are playing like an away team, just looking for rapid counterattacks.

It’s amazing were so good from set pieces now.

We aren’t the largest team so what ever they do in training is working so well.

JESUS!!!!!!!
Beautiful

Another header. From the enormous Jesus.

What a ball by granit

Totally different player under arteta

Sublime

Jesus! Great header, and great assist from Basel Bergkamp

Turn the screw Arsenal. Don't let them back into it.

Vieira looks like a good player.

They won’t play this badly in the 2nd half surely.

If we can get a 3rd before half time it would be useful

Brentford have been poor- but we deserve the credit for that. Agree though, need a third before we can begin to relax.

Didn't expect us to dominate like this. Brentford have been poor, but I think a big part of that is us playing really well. We look really organized, and our pressing is making it difficult for them to hold on to the ball. Every time we lose it we seem to have a player in perfect position to win it back.

Another goal in the second half and this one is done. Very good first half.

A well controlled game, let's get more goals in the second half.

Well done Saliba & Jesus

Hall of Famer.

Yes, that one wasn't bad either

What a goal

Wow. Just wow.

Told you so

VIEIRA!!!!!!!!!

Vieira!! Scoring in his debut start in the PL, happy for the kid. Very well taken