Barnet manager Dean Brennan highlighted the 'winning mentality' instilled at the club as the key factor in their impressive 5-1 victory over Arsenal U21s in the EFL Trophy. The match, which featured several Arsenal players who have played for the first team, was a stern test for the Barnet side. However, the determination and physicality of the young Barnet players, including a hat-trick from winger Tom Knowles and goals from Bright Siaw and Jack Maskall, ensured a dominant performance.
Brennan, in his post-match interview, emphasized the importance of keeping this winning mentality: 'The main thing for us is the serial-winning mentality. We want to keep that mentality at the football club.' He added, 'It was great to learn from some of the Arsenal kids, but some of our young lads shone bright tonight. We’ve got our own young lads who have bright futures themselves.'
Reflecting on the team's performance, Brennan noted the physicality and tactical approach that set them apart: 'We got on the front foot and we got at the opposition. We played our phases; obviously, they are coached that way. The advantage we have is physicality. I thought, tactically, we were good, and our press was good. We made a lot of physical entries against them. We pressed them high up the pitch; I think their first effort on our goal was 20 minutes into the game.'
The victory came after a 3-1 win over Salford City in the opening day of League Two. Brennan felt the need to make changes to this team for the upcoming challenge against Shrewsbury Town. 'Some needed it. It was good for them. We’ve got a young group who are extremely young,' he said. 'The main thing for us now is to continue that winning mentality and take it into Saturday. There’s no point in doing what we did against Salford and doing what we’ve done tonight and then not backing that up on Saturday, because that is what it’s all about.'
Brennan's focus now shifts to the club's league commitments, with a trip to Shrewsbury Town on the horizon. 'For us, tonight, there were lots of positive performances. There was good physicality to our game, and it was great to learn from the Arsenal lads,' he concluded, expressing pride in the team's recent progress and the future prospects of the younger players.
