Kai Havertz from Arsenal sealed the deal with a late goal, pushing his team to the top of the Premier League standings despite a shaky start from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. In a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Brentford at home on Saturday, Arsenal secured their eighth consecutive league win.
The win propelled Arsenal to the provisional top spot with 64 points, just one point ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of Manchester City, who were set to clash at Anfield the following day.
Arsenal took the lead in the 19th minute through Declan Rice’s header from a Ben White cross, showcasing their dominance from the outset at The Emirates. However, just before halftime, Brentford leveled the score against the run of play when Ramsdale’s hesitation in the box led to Yoane Wissa’s challenge redirecting the ball into the net.
Despite his earlier blunder, Ramsdale made amends with crucial saves, denying Ivan Toney’s long-range attempt and tipping Nathan Collins’ header over the bar.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, commended Ramsdale’s resilience, emphasizing the goalkeeper’s character and bravery in bouncing back from his mistake. Arteta highlighted the challenging nature of the goalkeeper position, emphasizing the importance of how one responds to errors.
With Arsenal pressing for the winning goal, Rice struck the post with a splendid curling effort from outside the box, leaving Brentford’s goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, stranded. Eventually, Havertz capitalized on another excellent delivery from White in the 86th minute, securing a well-deserved victory for Arsenal.
The result ensured Arsenal would finish the weekend no lower than second place and could potentially retain the top spot on goal difference if Liverpool and Manchester City draw.
Brentford, despite their valiant defensive effort, remained in 15th place, maintaining a five-point gap above the relegation zone, with one more game played than 18th-placed Luton Town.
Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, expressed disappointment at his team’s loss, particularly given their strong defensive performance. Frank was particularly frustrated with Havertz’s decisive goal, especially considering what he perceived as a clear dive by the German forward in the 65th minute, following minimal contact from Collins.
