‘They know how to win regardless of what is thrown at them’ – Brentford boss Andrews on Arteta and Arsenal | OneFootball

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews says he has “ultimate respect” for Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta ahead of the two teams facing off on Thursday.

The Bees host the league leaders at the Gtech Community Stadium having won their last two games.

But Andrews is under no illusions of the size of the task on Thursday and had huge praise for Arsenal ahead of the match.

“I think they’re a really good team,” he said.

“I think they know how to win football games, regardless of what is thrown at them within the games.

“You touch on the set-pieces, obviously that’s going to be a huge part of it, and it has been for where they’ve got to and how it’s got them ahead in a lot of games that they’ve played this season.

“But equally, the individuals that they have, whoever they can call upon, they’ve got some seriously talented players.

“I think they’re excellent out of possession, the way they defend as a unit, whether it’s high or when they drop low and defend their box, and the relationships that they have.

“A lot of the players have been together for a few years now and you can see those relationships are pretty tight. So, they’re a very, very well-coached team.”

“They are the best team in the country. The table doesn’t tend to lie.

“They’ve got so many talented individuals that are capable of moments. And then, equally, the way that Mikel has the team set up and how they can hurt you in different phases of the game, you have to be on things for every minute of the game, every second of the game, to try and nullify what they throw at you.

“So we’ll have to produce a top performance.”

Asked about coming up against Arteta, he continued: “I’ve got ultimate respect for the way he sets up the team, the way he goes about his business, the journey that he’s brought that team on, the mentality that he’s instilled within the group, and they’re in a pretty good position.

“I think a lot of Arsenal fans would have taken that at the start of the season.”