Thomas Frank Reflects on Brentford's Effort Against Arsenal

Brentford manager Thomas Frank praised his team’s performance despite a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, acknowledging the challenge of playing against one of the best teams in the world. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Frank shared his thoughts on the game, injuries, and the ongoing title race.

On the performance against Arsenal:
"You need to play a perfect game against Arsenal, one of the two best teams in the league, probably in the world," Frank said. "I thought actually we were close to perfect in the first half. I loved the way we played."

While pleased with the overall effort, Frank admitted his side fell short in key moments. "The second half was not too bad - we just conceded two goals. I think the overall performance was good, maybe very good, but the big moments we didn't take them well enough today - especially the three defensive moments."

On managing injuries:
Brentford has been dealing with a number of injuries, but Frank remained optimistic. "Of course, I would love to have a full squad, but I haven't, so we'll find solutions for that. We'll deal with it. The medical department is working extremely hard, so we'll find a way."

On Arsenal's title challenge:
Frank shared his perspective on the Premier League title race, saying, "It's a long season. I understand why Arne Slot is saying 'we haven't won anything yet.' Liverpool haven't had a dip yet and that will most likely come, and Arsenal are picking up points when they're not fully firing. It will go right to the end."

Despite the loss, Brentford’s spirited display highlighted their competitiveness in the Premier League, while Arsenal continued their push for the title.