Thomas Frank tells Mikel Arteta why training to face Arsenal has become easier
Thomas Frank, the manager of Brentford, acknowledged that the consistency of Arsenal’s starting lineup makes it somewhat easier for opposing coaches to prepare for their matches against Mikel Arteta’s team.
Ivan Toney secured a well-deserved draw for Brentford during the Premier League game on Saturday afternoon, with Leandro Trossard scoring the first goal for the hosts.
This was only the second time that Arteta’s squad has failed to earn a win at home this season.
However, Arsenal’s inability to maintain their lead against Brentford resulted in them failing to secure consecutive wins in the Premier League for the first time this season.
The Gunners suffered a defeat in their previous game against Everton, and with a high-stakes match against Manchester City on the horizon, this recent dip in performance is a cause for concern.
This recent dip in performance could potentially become a slump if Arsenal do not quickly return to winning ways.
They have only scored one goal in their last three matches across all competitions, including a 1-0 loss to City in the FA Cup, which further adds to their underwhelming form.
Should City defeat Arsenal in their crucial upcoming match, they would overtake Arsenal at the top of the standings, even though Arteta’s team would still have one game left to play.
Manchester United is now only five points behind, despite having played two more games, making it a potentially intense three-way race for the title.
Arsenal has a stable starting lineup, with new additions Trossard, Jorginho, and Kiwior having to settle for roles as substitutes. Tomiyasu, Tierney, and Holding are also frequently used substitutes, but Arteta remains loyal to his preferred lineup.
During a press conference following Saturday’s match in North London, Frank was asked if it was easier to plan against Arsenal because of the consistent nature of their starting lineup and the lack of rotation. Frank responded, “To some extent, yes.”
The Dane then went on to contextualise his comments: “But they are very good at what they are doing. It’s about eliminating their threats. We were very aware of doubling up on Saka and Martinelli. There was one moment when we didn’t have everything bang on and that’s when they scored.”
Despite this, Frank still believes that Arsenal will go on to win the league for the first time in 19 years. In his press conference, he stated, “They are the favorites to win the title, and I think they will.”
Frank’s comment came as a bit of a surprise and was not directly prompted by the line of questioning.
It reflected Frank’s pride in his team, which was the dominant force for much of the game and created more concrete scoring opportunities compared to Arsenal, who had difficulties creating opportunities against Brentford.
Thomas Frank tells Mikel Arteta why training to face Arsenal has become easier
