Kai Havertz’s 86th-minute winner moved Arsenal to the top of the Premier as they beat Brentford 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium. With title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City not in action until their Anfield showdown on Sunday, the stage was set for the Gunners to make it eight wins in a row and, for the time being at least, sit at the summit of the table.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead inside 20 minutes, as Declan Rice continued his strong season in front of goal by heading in from Ben White’s cross, and they threatened to take real control of the match. But that was swiftly forgotten about, as Aaron Ramsdale was thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Handed a rare start due to David Raya being ineligible to face his former club, the goalkeeper too long on the ball deep into first-half stoppage-time, and his clearance was charge down into the net by Yoane Wissa.
The Gunners spent the second-half piling on the pressure in search of a goal to restore their lead, with Rice going closer than anyone else when firing a brilliant effort against the bar from 25 yards out. The tension grew, the likelihood of Arsenal dropping two points increasing by the minute, until Havertz stepped up with his second last-gasp winner against Brentford of the season. Again it was White who provided the cross, and Havertz found himself in space to power a header past Mark Flekken.
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Simon Collings at the Emirates
The fans in front of the press box are a sea of limbs.
People grabbing onto whoever they can and hugging them.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Brentford | Kai Havertz 86'
ARSENAL TAKE THE LEAD AGAIN!
Havertz with the header, Flekken can’t keep it out. HUGE goal.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
It will be interesting to see how much time is added on here...
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
83 mins: White to the byline, cross drifts out of play as he tries to stand the ball up to the back post.
Could still be the best part of 15 minutes left for Arsenal to find a winner. There is time.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
81 mins: Brentford doing a good job of making this scrappy, plenty of stoppages.
Last couple of minutes has basically just been one throw-in after another.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
79 mins: And two more Arsenal changes.
Nelson on for Trossard, Zinchenko replaces Kiwior.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
78 mins: Wissa and Onyeka off for Brentford, Yarmuilouk and Maupay are on.
Arsenal not really in the mood for whatever Maupay has planned...
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
77 mins: A constant stream of Arsenal set-pieces.
Into double figures now for corners. Brentford doing whatever they can to slow things down, Flekken the latest to go down. Could get plenty of stoppage-time.
Saka swings the latest corner in, Ajer with the header. Brentford continue to hold firm.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
74 mins: Jesus gets his first chance to run with the ball, goes straight at Ajer and wins a corner for the Gunners. Need to make one of these count.
Wissa’s header comes out to Odegaard. He lays it off to Rice, from 25 yards out... OFF THE BAR!
Inches away.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
71 mins: Brentford should probably be in front!
Ajer with a lovely ball in, Collins completely free and his header is tipped over by Ramsdale.
Tension levels rise even more inside the stadium...