Brentford (1) 2 v 0 (0) Arsenal
22 Canos; 73 Norgaard
Referee M Oliver, no bookings either side.
Played Friday 13 August 2021 at the Brentford Community Stadium, attendance 16,479.
Friday the 13th did not prove unlucky for Brentford as they started their first ever Premier League (PL) campaign, and played their first Premier London Derbies (PLDs) match, with a convincing 2-0 victory over the Arsenal at a packed Brentford Community Stadium. A goal in each half, without calling on their talisman of last season Ivan Toney, saw them home against the rather muffled Gunners. Congratulations to the Bees Head Coach Dane Thomas Frank on his first game and first win in the exacting PL.
Chelsea (2) 3 v (0) 0 Crystal Palace
22 Alonso; 40 Pulisic; 58 Chalobah
Referee J Moss, no bookings either side.
Played Saturday 14 August 2021 at Stamford Bridge, attendance 38,965.
24 hours later in front of rather more than twice the crowd still in West London Chelsea started their PL season against a newish-look Crystal Palace with a very confident 3-0 win. It was not a happy beginning to his PL Managership for former Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira who had played 10 times against the Blues and never lost! Star performer was home grown Trevoh Chalobah who 72 hours earlier had played all the 120 minutes of Chelsea’s UEFA Super Cup win by 6 penalties to 5 over Spain’s Villarreal after a 1-1 score on Wednesday 11 August 2021 in front of 13,000 fans at Windsor Park, Belfast UK.
Next up for our PLDs matches will be Crystal Palace v Brentford on Saturday 21 August 2021. There is no previous form on this first encounter at PL level except to say that the Bees are flying and the Eagles have been grounded once already. Good luck to both.
Until next time, “Keep Safe” and enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.