Kai Havertz scores late as Arsenal beat Brentford

• Arsenal ascended to the top of the Premier League after Kai Havertz’s late header saved Aaron Ramsdale’s blushes and gave the Gunners a crucial 2-1 victory over Brentford.
• Declan Rice gave them the lead early on, but just before the half, an agonizing Aaron Ramsdale howler allowed Yoane Wissa to tie the score for the Bees.
• , Havertz scored with a header late in the game to give Arsenal their eighth straight league victory, moving them two points clear of City and ahead of Liverpool.

Arsenal ascended to the top of the Premier League after Kai Havertz’s late header saved Aaron Ramsdale’s blushes and gave the Gunners a crucial 2-1 victory over Brentford.

Before their thrilling match on Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s team had the opportunity to upset both Manchester City and Liverpool. Declan Rice gave them the lead early on, but just before the half, an agonizing Aaron Ramsdale howler allowed Yoane Wissa to tie the score for the Bees.

But like in the match in November, Havertz scored with a header late in the game to give Arsenal their eighth straight league victory, moving them two points clear of City and ahead of Liverpool.

How the game unfolded

Declan Rice opened the scoring. Photo/ One Football

Arsenal came into the match with a purpose that was evident around the Emirates, as everyone knew how crucial a win was in preparation for Sunday’s match at Anfield. Brentford found it difficult to handle their opponents’ early energy.

The 15-minute, four-goal burst that transpired on Monday night against Sheffield United wouldn’t take place again. Brentford started the game well, holding the Gunners at a distance and making a few attempts to enter the hosts’ end.

Ben White was given much too much time in the right half-space to throw in an inswinging pass, which Rice met with a fantastic header into the far corner for his sixth league goal of the season. But in the 19th minute, the anticipated Arsenal opening eventually arrived.

Christian Norgaard’s injury did not assist the Bees; although being treated, he decided to give up his spot and eventually lost it to Mathias Jensen after 34 minutes on the clock.

Havertz was spared blushes when Jorginho’s brilliant ball through struck the wrong side of the post with his dink over Flekken only a second after. However, replays suggested that he may have timed his run precisely.

Nevertheless, Ramsdale had nowhere to run after suffering a costly mishap in the third extra minute. Wissa charged down to stop the Englishman, who had allowed the ball to deflect into the net off his outstretched leg.

After throwing the kitchen sink at the Brentford backline for the remainder of the match, Ramsdale did at least partially make up for his horrifying error ten minutes into the second half. He did this by making a crucial fingertip save to stop Ivan Toney from scoring an incredible shot from the left flank.

In the seventy-first minute, Ramsdale completed the turnaround story by tipping the ball over after Brentford defender Collins freed himself in the penalty area to meet Kristoffer Ajer’s cross.

Brentford had had the better chances of the second half until that moment, but in the 74th minute, Rice hit the bar with a magnificent curling drive from 25 yards, bringing Arsenal closer and closer to the much-needed second.

Despite Arsenal’s inability to dominate set pieces, they were still able to create chances from open play, and in the 86th minute, one such move set up a late fireworks display at Emirates.

Kai Havertz. Photo/ Sky Sports

Captain Martin Odegaard found White’s overlapping run on the right, and the Englishman set up Havertz for another goal, this time a bullet header that hit Flekken’s palm and sailed into the net’s roof.

With the summit in sight, Arsenal wasted no time in trying to score a third. In injury time, a strong penalty appeal was waved away when Lewis-Potter appeared to have Gabriel’s shirt in a vice-like grip, but he was not punished. Nevertheless, a single-goal victory would still secure their place in the top flight.

The Gunners will now focus on their attempt to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of the Champions League last-16 match against Porto on Tuesday, while the Bees will go to relegation-battling Burnley on Saturday.