Some supporters may be apprehensive about travelling to watch their beloved Brentford on Friday the 13th – not the best omen for either side – but fans will undoubtedly return to the stadium en masse as the new season begins with open doors to the public.
The Wembley turnstiles did open for a limited number of Brentford and Swansea City supporters during their playoff final on May 29, where the Bees’ agonising 74-year wait for top-flight football came to an end thanks to goals from Ivan Toney and Emiliano Marcondes.
Understandably overcome by emotion come the final whistle, manager Frank had achieved exactly what he had set out to do when taking the reins back in 2018, and his side have gone toe-to-toe with some of the big boys in pre-season.
A 1-0 defeat to West Ham United was a minor blot on the notebook, but the Bees claimed victories over fellow top-flight outfits Watford and Valencia – as well as claiming a highly impressive 2-2 draw with Manchester United – while Cambridge United, Southend United, Wimbledon and Boreham Wood were all no match for Frank’s men.
Brentford amassed a nine-game unbeaten home run during the business end of the Championship season and hold the honour of being the 50th different team to play in the Premier League, but none of the nine London teams before them managed to win their first ever game in the competition.
The 2021-22 season will also be one like none other for several Arsenal supporters, who witnessed their team fall short in their bid to qualify for European competition last season for the first time in 25 years.
Neck-and-neck with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on the final day for a place in the inaugural Europa Conference League,
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Arsenal seemed set to pip the Lilywhites to seventh place having got the job done against Brighton & Hove Albion, but Spurs produced a stunning turnaround against Leicester City to finish above the Gunners again.
The jubilation of leading Arsenal to their 14th FA Cup triumph after six months in charge has quickly dissipated for Mikel Arteta, whose Emirates future could very well be determined by how well his side perform for the rest of the calendar year, but they at least managed to win their final five Premier League games last season.
However, Hibernian, Chelsea and Spurs have all condemned Arsenal to defeat during a demoralising pre-season period for the Gunners, who can take solace in the fact that they are unbeaten in seven games away from home during the opening weekend
