Dean Brennan criticises Arsenal U21s after Barnet FC win
Barnet manager says opponents lacked respect during 5-1 EFL Trophy defeat at The Hive
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Barnet FC manager Dean Brennan has accused Arsenal U21s of disrespecting his team after a 5-1 EFL Trophy victory at The Hive in High Barnet. The match, played on 18 August 2026, saw Barnet dominate with Tom Knowles scoring a first-half hat-trick.
Brennan’s comments came in a post-match interview published by Barnet FC. He said the Premier League side’s approach lacked professionalism. The result leaves Barnet top of EFL Trophy Group E, while Arsenal U21s remain without a point in the competition.
Barnet FC publishes pre-match interview with Dean Brennan
The club's official website featured a new interview with manager Dean Brennan ahead of the Shrewsbury Town match.
What Brennan said
“I don’t think they respected us. They came here thinking they could just turn up and win. That’s not how football works at this level.”
Dean Brennan, Barnet FC manager
Brennan did not specify which Arsenal players or actions prompted his remarks. The match report on Barnet FC’s website did not include a response from Arsenal U21s. The EFL Trophy, formerly the Football League Trophy, involves clubs from League One, League Two and invited Premier League and Championship academy sides.
Barnet FC sign Damola Ajayi on loan from Tottenham
The 20-year-old forward joins Dean Brennan's squad to bolster attacking options.
Match details
Tom Knowles opened the scoring for Barnet in the 12th minute and completed his hat-trick by half-time. Arsenal pulled a goal back early in the second half but Barnet restored their four-goal lead through Idris Kanu and a late penalty from Nicke Kabamba.
The Hive, Barnet’s home ground since 2013, hosted the match. No attendance figure was published by the club. Barnet FC’s next fixture is a National League match against Oldham Athletic on 23 August 2026.
What happens next
Barnet FC have no further scheduled fixtures against Arsenal U21s this season. The EFL Trophy group stage continues until November 2026, with knockout rounds following. Arsenal U21s will next face Sutton United on 2 September 2026.
Questions this report answers
+What did Dean Brennan say about Arsenal U21s?
Brennan accused Arsenal U21s of disrespecting Barnet FC during their 5-1 EFL Trophy defeat. He said the Premier League side acted as if they could win without effort. The comments were published on Barnet FC’s official website on 18 August 2026.
+Who scored for Barnet FC in the match?
Tom Knowles scored a hat-trick for Barnet FC in the first half. Idris Kanu and Nicke Kabamba added further goals in the second half. The final score was 5-1 to Barnet at The Hive on 18 August 2026.
+When is Barnet FC’s next match?
Barnet FC’s next fixture is a National League match against Oldham Athletic on 23 August 2026. The game will also take place at The Hive in High Barnet. No further EFL Trophy matches are scheduled for Barnet at this stage.
Barnet Press News Desk
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