Arsenal surged to the summit of the Premier League standings, if only temporarily, following Kai Havertz’s late heroics that sealed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday.
Havertz’s decisive header in the 86th minute, assisted by Ben White, proved pivotal after he had narrowly escaped a potential second booking for simulation earlier in the second half.
The win extended Arsenal’s impressive Premier League winning streak to eight consecutive matches in 2024, compensating for an earlier blunder by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale that allowed Brentford to draw level just before halftime.
Mikel Arteta’s men now lead the league, one point clear of both Liverpool and Manchester City, with the latter set to face off against the former at Anfield on Sunday. A draw in that fixture would ensure Arsenal remain atop the table on goal difference.
“It was a massive win for us,” acknowledged Havertz. “Especially after conceding so late in the first half, it was important that we rallied together to turn things around.”
Although Arsenal had been prolific in front of goal, scoring 21 times in their last four league outings, they found it challenging to replicate that attacking prowess against Brentford. Declan Rice initially gave them the lead with a header off another delivery from White in the 19th minute.
However, Ramsdale’s costly error on the stroke of halftime gifted Brentford an unexpected equalizer. Deputizing for the injured David Raya, the goalkeeper hesitated on the ball, allowing Yoane Wissa to capitalize and deflect his clearance into the net.
Ramsdale made amends with crucial saves in the second half, denying Ivan Toney’s long-range effort with a remarkable intervention in the 55th minute and later producing a superb one-handed stop to thwart Nathan Collins’ header.
Despite Brentford’s resilience, Arsenal continued to press forward, with Rice rattling the crossbar from a distance in the 74th minute. The relentless pressure eventually paid off when White’s pinpoint cross found Havertz to secure the vital three points.
Arteta commended his team’s perseverance: “We had to dig in and earn the right to win it. But I’m really pleased with the performance. If you want to be up there, you have to win these types of games.”
Meanwhile, Brentford’s winless run extends to five games, with manager Thomas Frank expressing frustration over Havertz’s involvement in the winning goal. Frank believed Havertz should have been sent off earlier for simulation, but referee Rob Jones opted not to take further action.
