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#3 Brentford make a strong case to be the neutral’s favorite side this season
Gone are the days when sides newly promoted to the Premier League went into the season adopting an ultra-defensive approach with a single-minded focus on survival and nothing more.
Over the past few seasons, teams such as Wolves, Sheffield United, and Leeds United, to name but a few, have made a real impression on the football world by staying true to their principles and showcasing entertaining, attractive football after making the step up to the English top flight.
Much of the same was expected from Brentford, a side that has made a name for itself in the lower divisions by playing a brand of attacking, esthetically pleasing football. As it happens, the Bees did not disappoint as they were extremely good value for their win over Arsenal in their opening fixture.
With this win, Brentford also gave us a taste of what they have to offer and look primed to assume the mantle of the ‘neutral fan’s favorite team’ in this campaign. If they can keep up the style of play they displayed in this fixture, they are sure to win several more fans over the course of this season.
#4 Pressure already starting to mount on Mikel Arteta
Although it is still relatively early in his managerial career, the pressures that come with the Arsenal job cause the spotlight to shine more brightly on Mikel Arteta than they might have done at another club.
The Spaniard was at the helm of an underwhelming campaign last season for the Gunners that saw them finish 8th in the table. This disappointing performance means that Arsenal go into this season with no European football to deal with for the first time in several seasons.
While the Arsenal faithful have higher expectations for the club, many also regard the lack of continental competition as a prime opportunity to focus on a much-improved domestic showing this season.
However, with back-to-back fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester City to follow, this opening-day defeat is far from the auspicious start Arteta would have been hoping for this season.
#5 Fans are back in stadiums
The start of the new Premier League season also signals the return of fans to stadiums after almost a year of football played in front of virtually empty stands.
While pre-recorded chants and cheers were a good way to liven up games that were played behind closed doors, the atmosphere generated by a full house remains unmatched. This was showcased admirably by the fans in attendance, who were in fine voice from the first whistle to the last.
The home fans definitely made their voices heard as well. Already in high spirits as they watched their side play their first-ever Premier League game, the stadium erupted with unbridled joy as the goals went in. The return of fans was not lost on the Brentford manager either, as he was seen geeing the crowd up on several occasions during the course of the game.
Another interesting thing to note over the course of the season would be to see how full stadiums would affect teams’ home advantage, a phenomenon that seemed to have taken a significant dip last season with no fans in attendance.
