Starting something on Friday the 13th is not usually seen as a positive sign – in fact, it’s usually seen as quite the opposite. But, apart from three teams and all of their fans worldwide, it will all end in tragedy (as they will end up playing Championship football next season). Everybody else could be in for the best Premier League season ever.
This is quite a big boast considering the new season is less than a week old, but this year it’s going to be about more than just the football. So, while there might not be any team making up a 13-point gap to win the title, no ‘special one’, no team scoring in the last minute to snatch the title from their greatest rivals, or even any ‘I would love it if we beat them’ rants – for all of the right reasons, the 2021-2022 season will live long in the memory.
First-day upset
Brentford’s first Premier League appearance ever, and their first in the top flight for over 70 years was the curtain raiser for the season, and, despite the date, it turned out to be something to really remember for everyone except Arsenal and Fulham fans. On paper, there was only one winner, but as any pundit on a phone-in show will tell you, the game is not played on paper, and on the pitch a 2-0 result was what anyone feeling emotionally exhausted after the events of July 11th needed to get them re-engaged.
Competition at the top and bottom
For the last couple of seasons, even with all of the turmoil off of the pitch, many things about the forthcoming season could be predicted before a ball was kicked. But, with resurgence among some clubs expected to be near the top of the league, and the first fixture already showing there are no real ‘mugs’ in what you would expect to be the bottom half of the table, this is going to be one to watch. So, anyone who was thinking of spending matchdays this season either looking at Instagram or playing on a mobile online casino instead, just might want to rethink their plans.
The fans are back
You would have to have the shortest of memories to not recall the difference a stadium full of fans makes to a match. Not only does it create the kind of atmosphere players can feed off of to create incredible moments like those we saw in the Brentford vs Arsenal game, but it also makes playing at home the advantage it was for so many years. Already the joy of football fans in all leagues, not just the Premiership, is evident as they can spend their Saturday afternoons (or whenever else TV wants a match played) doing what they love.
To wrap things up
As mentioned above, this season is about more than what happens on the pitch. It’s a return to doing what football fans love doing the best after a year and a half of turmoil, and for that reason alone, for so many fans, it will be the best season ever.