Arsenal players were back on the training pitch before Sunday's Premier League clash at home to Chelsea. The Gunners suffered a miserable <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2021/08/14/brentford-claim-crazy-win-over-arsenal-in-premier-league-curtain-raiser/" target="_blank">2-0 defeat at Brentford</a> in the opening game of the new season on Friday. Ben White, a £50 million ($68.7m) summer signing from Brighton, was one of several Arsenal players who endured a night to forget at the promoted Bees. There was no sign of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette at London Colney on Tuesday — the pair missed Friday's match due to illness — or Thomas Partey and Gabriel, who were also absent at the Brentford Community Stadium. The humbling defeat has turned the spotlight on manager Mikel Arteta who faces a battle to get points on the board in the next two matches. Up first are Chelsea, who <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2021/08/14/chelsea-power-past-crystal-palace-and-flash-premier-league-title-credentials/" target="_blank">won their first game 3-0 against Crystal Palace</a> and should have <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2021/08/12/romelu-lukaku-rejoins-chelsea-in-975m-deal-from-inter-milan/" target="_blank">£97.5m signing Romelu Lukaku</a> in their squad for the match at the Emirates Stadium. Then it is reigning champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on August 28. In between those games, Arsenal face a tricky League Cup tie away to Championship side West Bromwich Albion. All in all, a tough start to the new campaign for the Gunners. <b>Brentford 2 Arsenal 0: player ratings</b>