Jamie Carragher has stated that Brentford’s win against Arsenal on the opening day of the season was his highlight of 2021, as he told Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.
The former defender picked that moment because it was also the first time fans were allowed, at full capacity, back into stadiums after the previous campaign saw games being played behind closed doors.
Not only was there the buzz of football returning for the new campaign and supporters being back allowed into their seats.
But it was also a case of a newly-promoted in Brentford, that are seen as minnows in London, coming up against one of the top dogs of the capital.
Carragher admitted that ‘Arsenal fans won’t like’ him reminding them, but this is why he picked Brentford’s win against Mikel Arteta’s men as the moment of this soon-to-be concluded year.
“Mine was the Friday Night Football,” said Carragher. “The first game of this season at Brentford v Arsenal.
“Just to have the fans back. It just made me realise how much we had missed it. For so long, it felt like we were watching a different sport with no fans in the stadium.
“Arsenal fans won’t like me saying it. But when you get a new promoted team up. The energy. We love going to Brentford. We went their again, for a Friday night against Watford. The atmosphere is fantastic.
“I just missed the support being their so much. I have been involved in football my whole life. What we went through, it was difficult for everyone. But that first thing, with everyone coming back, it was just brilliant. It was like a night out. It was a brilliant way to start this season.”
A lot has changed ever since those potentially sack-worthy performances by Arteta.
Not only was he backed by the board, but he now also has a chance to secure Champions League football despite sitting bottom with zero points after three games.
This young, vibrant, fearless and attack-minded squad was put together by Arteta and perhaps the words ‘trust the process’ can now be believed.
Of course, there is still a long way to go, but Arsenal are seemingly on track for where they want to be and that’s getting back into Europe, then going on and kicking on from that.
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