Brentford celebrated their return to the top tier after a 74-year absence with a memorable victory over Arsenal as the 2021-22 Premier League season got under way in style.

Sergi Canos opened the scoring after 22 minutes and Christian Norgaard made it 2-0 after the break.

Arsenal failed to respond on a disappointing evening.

Here's the best of the reaction:

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank to BBC Sport: "I think we top-performed but there must be a level above that. The fans were absolutely amazing. That was more than a 10/10 performance in terms of atmosphere. Constant singing. Amazing.

"I know after the play-off final there were a lot of proud people, a lot of tears. It’s been a long journey. I thought we deserved the win. What I liked was how brave we were, pressing high and trying to play.

"If there was only one man of the match, it's the fans. I can’t name one of the team, they were all top.

"Of course this is one game. We have to prove it many more times. But this was a good start.

"Tonight I will enjoy it and get a glass of red."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: "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."

Should Brentford's second have been disallowed for a foul on Bernd Leno? "It’s allowed in the Premier League. He cannot move. I can’t change it now.

"The first goal gave them some hope. We wanted to play better in the second half but we need many more shots on target, then we conceded on a set-piece.

"What I can control and help, I’ll put all my enthusiasm and work into that."

Brentford

Brentford goalscorer Sergi Canos speaking to Sky Sports: "This is amazing, I've been dreaming about scoring the first goal in the stadium and these people deserve it, we deserve it. Great three points, we need a bit of calm and then we go again next week.

"It is such an incredible moment - fantastic for me and my family who've come all the way from Spain and all my other family in Spain are watching the game. For the club, it's a step forward."

Brentford boss Thomas Frank speaking to Sky Sports:"The fans were amazing, what an atmosphere. I'm a bit speechless. First time in the top-flight, we're opening the Premier League season, fans can dream we're number one in the Premier League. It's a fantastic story.

"We're just a bus stop in Hounslow, we're not supposed to be here. We will celebrate every win, but we want more.

"I think the players today were amazing, they ran themselves to the ground, played with intensity, they were brave and pressed high constantly."

Brentford goalscorer Christian Nørgaard to Sky Sports: "The ground was absolutely rocking today. As players it's what you dream of in the Premier League.

"You play the opener of the season against Arsenal at home and you go out as 2-0 winners... it couldn't have been written any better.

"It's a dream come true scoring in the Premier League. What can I say?"

What a night!

That's all from me. I'm signing off to go and join Thomas Frank for a glass of red...

I'll leave you with a recap of the best quotes.

15 different players made their Premier League debuts in this match (12 for Brentford, 3 for Arsenal).

Excluding 1992-93, this is the joint-most in any Premier League match, along with Crystal Palace against Norwich City in August 2004.

Brentford

"Us Brentford fans can't quite believe what has just happened!" says lifelong Bees supporter Ian Westbrook.

"We really deserved that win, no question about it and showed we can surprise a few people this season.

"While we're not getting carried away, we're going to enjoy being top of the league!"

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank to BBC Sport: "I think we top-performed but there must be a level above that. The fans were absolutely amazing. That was more than a 10/10 performance in terms of atmosphere. Constant singing. Amazing.

"I know after the play-off final there were a lot of proud people, a lot of tears. It’s been a long journey.

"I thought we deserved the win. What I liked was how brave we were, pressing high and trying to play.

"If there was only one man of the match, it's the fans. I can’t name one of the team, they were all top."

On Ivan Toney: "Unbelievable presence, how he led the team. Constant battle with the centre-backs. He did many good things with link-up play and set-pieces in both boxes.

"We didn’t have any Premier League experience - maybe 30 minutes. We believe if we have players with quality and the right character, then there’s no problems.

"Of course this is one game. We have to prove it many more times. But this was a good start.

"Tonight I will enjoy it and get a glass of red."

Football.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford

More from Thomas Frank on Sky Sports: "Today the players deserve the praise and celebrations, it's been a hard pre-season. You can see they're fit, they can run, so this has been planned. They deserve some rest but Monday we look forward to Crystal Palace."

On the importance of the fans: "Sheffield United spoke about their first season in the Premier League where their supporters helped the team and no doubt these guys were amazing tonight and we will need their help this season - they keep the players going for 90 minutes."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: "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."

Should Brentford's second have been disallowed for a foul on Bernd Leno? "It’s allowed in the Premier League. He cannot move. I can’t change it now.

"The first goal gave them some hope. We wanted to play better in the second half but we need many more shots on target, then we conceded on a set-piece.

"A lot of young boys were doing everything they can. For some of them it was the first experience in the league – that says a lot."

On missing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette: "I can’t change that. We knew that before the game. I don’t know [if they'll be available for the next game]."

"What I can control and help, I’ll put all my enthusiasm and work into that."

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank speaking to Sky Sports: "The fans were amazing, what an atmosphere. I'm a bit speechless. First time in the top-flight, we're opening the Premier League season, fans can dream we're number one in the Premier League. It's a fantastic story.

"We're just a bus stop in Hounslow, we're not supposed to be here. We will celebrate every win, but we want more.

"I think the players today were amazing, they ran themselves to the ground, played with intensity, they were brave and pressed high constantly.

Image source, Getty Images

"On set-pieces I thought we were better, that's why we did long throws and at times we could go high and knew that we could win the ball and create chances.

"Ivan [Toney] has an unbelievable character and mentality and he has such a presence on the pitch. How many duels he wins... he can link-up and press for the team. He is very important to us.

"Bryan [Mbuemo] did a good job of stretching them, of going one-v-one and with his pace he is a big threat."

Paul Harrison: Arsene, please come back.

Iain Moss: Knew Brentford would beat Arsenal but I didn't know how electric the atmosphere was going to be! Don't fancy going there as an away team! The premier league is back baby!!

Thomas Frank says the fans helped them get through 90 minutes and they will have to do the same for the rest of the season.

"They were amazing tonight but this is only one game."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford

Brentford goalscorer Sergi Canos speaking to Sky Sports: "This is amazing, I've been dreaming about scoring the first goal in the stadium and these people deserve it, we deserve it. Great three points, we need a bit of calm and then we go again next week.

"It is such an incredible moment - fantastic for me and my family who've come all the way from Spain and all my other family in Spain are watching the game. For the club, it's a step forward.

"We've been working on set-pieces so we'll always have something ready so we're pleased it came through.

"We took the game to them, we pressed high, we were brave and we deserved the three points."

Image source, Getty Images

"I am a little bit speechless," Thomas Frank tells Sky Sports.

A few fans behind him start screaming his name and Jamie Carragher encourages them.

He jokes that they are now number one in the table.

Arsenal will end tonight bottom of the Premier League for the first time since August 9th, 2015, when they lost 2-0 to West Ham United.

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Sergi Canos is barely able to hear the questions in his post-match interview.

He tries to answer the first one but points to his ears and says "this is very difficult!"

Brentford have won their first top-flight match since 5 April 1947, when the Bees won 2-1 at Leeds United.

Arsenal have lost against a promoted side for the first time since a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on 21 July 2020.

It's only the second time in the last 10 seasons that Brentford have won their opening match (W2-D4-L4).

Welcome to the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images