Despite goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's calamitous first-half error, Arsenal's Kai Havertz scored a late winner, propelling his team to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 home victory over Brentford on Saturday. This win marked Arsenal's eighth consecutive league victory.
The hard-fought triumph placed Arsenal provisionally at the top with 64 points, one point ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of Manchester City, who faced off at Anfield on Sunday.
Declan Rice's glancing header, assisted by a Ben White cross, secured the lead for Arsenal after 19 minutes, showcasing their dominance in possession from the onset at The Emirates.
However, Brentford managed to equalize just before halftime as Ramsdale's hesitation in the box led to Yoane Wissa's sliding challenge redirecting an attempted clearance into the net.
Despite his earlier error, Ramsdale made amends with two crucial saves, diverting Ivan Toney's long-range effort wide and tipping Nathan Collins' header over the bar. Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta praised Ramsdale's resilience, emphasizing the goalkeeper's "huge personality and courage," highlighting the challenging nature of the goalkeeper position.
Arsenal intensified their pursuit of the winning goal, with Rice nearly finding the net with a curling effort from outside the box that struck the woodwork 15 minutes from time, leaving Brentford's keeper Mark Flekken stranded.
In the 86th minute, Havertz headed home from another excellent delivery by White, securing a well-deserved victory for Arsenal. This win ensured that Arsenal would finish the weekend at least in second place and potentially stay at the top on goal difference if Liverpool and Manchester City drew their match.
Brentford, meanwhile, remained in 15th place, five points above the relegation zone, having played one more game. Despite the defeat, Brentford's manager Thomas Frank praised his team's defensive performance, expressing frustration that Havertz, whom he accused of a clear dive earlier in the match, turned out to be the matchwinner.
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