The 2021-22 Premier League season begins with a fascinating London derby between new boys Brentford and Arsenal, with the stakes high for both clubs.
Brentford will believe a fast start is imperative with the Premier League debutants unlikely to be able to reel in opponents should they be stranded early, while Mikel Arteta will fear for his job as the Arsenal boss after last season’s dismal campaign.
The brand of football played by Brentford is easy on the eye, but their defence will be seriously tested at this higher level, and Arsenal look fairly priced to get off to a flyer at 20/23.
Arteta has run out of excuses and the time to deliver is now. Last season’s eighth-placed finish means for the first time in a quarter of a century, there is no European football for the club, and therefore the focus is solely on the Premier League.
White Looks Just Right for Gunners
The novice boss has been backed in the transfer market with the £50m arrival of Ben White – the former Brighton man is probably overpriced but is much better than those at the club previously.
Pre-season has not been great – Arsenal lost to Hibs, drew with Rangers and then suffered successive losses to Chelsea and Tottenham – but friendly form is always one to disregard.
Arsenal’s strong finish to last season is more relevant when they won five Premier League games in a row, including a 1-0 triumph at Chelsea.
Arteta wants to build from the back, both in terms of passing tempo and also attitude, and this is the kind of game that could suit them with Brentford set to throw plenty of punches but with the potential to be hit on the counter.
Over 2.5 goals looks a solid play at 20/23, particularly as Arsenal have plenty of firepower with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe in a lively front three.
Brentford had the best striker in the Championship, with Ivan Toney notching 33 times in total. He possessed the highest expected goal figure, too, of over 28.5, and only Adam Armstrong had more attempts and shots on target in the division.
Armstrong is now at Southampton from Blackburn and will fancy his chances of turning into a decent Premier League hitman. The same is equally true of Toney, who is a 6/4 shot to score against Arsenal and 4/1 to grab the opening goal of the season.
Smith Rowe Looks the Part
However, for a better-value pick, consider Emile Smith Rowe at a juicy 12/1.
Smith Rowe has signed a new contract at Arsenal this summer amid interest from Aston Villa, and the Gunners have shown a huge amount of faith in the youngster by handing him the number ten jersey.
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He looks set to take over the playmaking duties with Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard having ended their loan spells, and Smith Rowe is more than capable of stepping up if he can remain injury-free, something which has already been a problem.
Smith Rowe scored in two of his last four league starts and found his shooting boots with a goal in the friendly at Easter Road against Hibs.
*All odds correct at time of writing.