Said has final say on horror week for Cook’s crisis outfit
SAID BENRAHMA netted a superb hat-trick to maintain Brentford’s perfect restart – and pile more misery on poor Wigan.
The Bees’ fourth consecutive win without conceding a goal since the lockdown moves them within two points of West Brom in the second automatic spot.
But Wigan, who were unbeaten in their last nine games, suffered a horrible defeat in the week they plunged into administration.
Despite calls for an investigation into the recent takeover of the 2013 FA Cup winners, Latics face a 12-point penalty and a losing battle against the drop.
By contrast, Brentford are still looking up to the Premier League with their BMW strikeforce – also starring Ollie Watkins and Bryan Mbeumo – now scoring a combined 52 goals this season, with Benrahma taking his tally to 14.
Bees manager Thomas Frank said: “Said has had a good season but he has absolutely hit the ground running after this coronavirus break.
“He is getting better and better and I have to praise him for his work ethic. He has been good, he needs to keep it up. Three goals a game will be good!”
Frank was just as pleased with his defence after keeping a club-record fifth consecutive clean sheet. The Dane added: “We are in a good place. We have everything to win and nothing to lose.”
Wigan’s long streak without conceding a goal ended at 684 minutes when Benrahma latched on to a header from
Emiliano Marcondes to volley home afer 19 minutes.
The Algerian and left-back Rico Henry offered a constant threat down the left.
But Benrahma’s second goal in the 57th minute was all his own work as he twisted and turned down by the left corner flag before floating in a rightfooted cross-shot into the top corner.
“It was definitely a cross,” said Frank.
“He tried to claim it was something else but it was a cross!” Benrahma completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute with a low shot after a neat pass from Christian Norgaard.
And then Wigan’s week of misery was sealed when sub Joe Garner was sent off in the 81st minute for a recklessly high tackle on Jan Zamburek.
Wigan fans have raised over £100,000 to keep the club going and boss Paul Cook said: “All staff and players can do is thank the supporters for what they are doing. We won’t be lying down and fading away.
“I guarantee the supporters that we will lift these players and we will fight until we can’t and there is no mathematical chance.
“At the moment there is a realistic chance we can stay up.”
MIKEL ARTETA turned the tables on his counterpart Nuno Espirito Santo – by going back to the future.
The Gunners chief beat his opposite number at his own game at Molineux as Arsenal rediscovered the art of discipline on their travels.
Before Arsene Wenger redefined the beautiful game, away days such as this under George Graham used to be the club’s trademark.
But in recent times, virtues such as discipline, defensive solidity and clinical efficiency have been qualities possessed by others.
However – as far as Arsenal were concerned – such pillars of success made a welcome return in the Black Country.
Man of the match Shkodran Mustafi and his partner-in-crime David Luiz concentrated on their duties at the back to keep out the spirited hosts.
True, it took a late first-half strike from teenage sensation Bukayo Saka to set them on their way before Alexandre Lacazette leapt off the substitutes’ bench to ram home the killer second four minutes from time.
And it was a game of few chances at either end as both managers set up with three centre-halves.
But the fact that Arsenal were willing to play the waiting game and pounce on their opponent’s weakness made a welcomed deviation from the usual script away from The Emirates.
The first half-hour was a huge game of cat and mouse. The bright spark, as usual, was provided by the hosts’ Adama Traore, trusted this week to partner Raul Jimenez up front.
It needed a smart stop from keeper Emiliano Martinez inside the opening 10 seconds, who was more alert than his defence to block on the edge of his own area after Traore wriggled free.
It took the Gunners time to feel their way into it. Slowly, but surely, the chances came.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to connect with a bouncing ball from Dani Ceballos’s corner and then Eddie Nketiah saw a snapshot pushed on to the post by Rui Patricio.
But Wolves paid the price after switching off.
Aubameyang pulled clear of his marker to play a pass down the left to Kieran Tierney.
His first-time centre deflected off Matt Doherty and bounced up for Saka, who swivelled and hooked a shot into the net.
It was the first time Wolves’ defence had been breached since Project Restart kicked off.
Nuno tried to inject life into his attack. Again, the impetus came from Traore just after the hour.
He raced clear after the ball had bounced into his path after cannoning into Diogo Jota’s face.
He lifted the ball over the advancing Arsenal keeper but had done too much, his effort skimming the crossbar.
Arteta spared Nketiah the final few moments – this was not the youngster’s best afternoon in a red shirt – and had the luxury of using Frenchman Lacazette, a high-quality replacement.
Fellow sub Joe Willock made good ground down the right and his colleague nipped in front of Conor Coady, controlling and then firing across Rui Patricio to seal the points.