Jamie Carragher delivered a brutal assessment of Arsenal’s defensive failing as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Brentford on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Brentford announced their arrival in the top flight in style as goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard secured a memorable victory in west London.
A below-par Gunners side missing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette were deservedly beaten in the season’s opener.
It was a far more callow Gunners side than boss Mikel Arteta had probably envisaged starting the season with, but Canos beat Bernd Leno at his near post in the first half before Christian Norgaard finished off abject Arsenal defending from a long throw to secure the points.
Following Norgaard’s tap-in, Sky Sports pundit Carragher was deeply unimpressed: "How would you describe Arsenal's defending here?
“It's just Arsenal. Weak, bullied. It's men against boys.
"New season, same old story."
Arteta said of his side’s performance: “I’m disappointed. We started the season against a good opponent.
“I don’t think we deserved anything different. They scored from a long throw-in and we didn’t have enough presence in the box.”
Additional reporting by PA.
