Havertz header seals late win for Gunners

Kai Havertz swooped late to clinch a sensational 2-1 victory for Arsenal over a dogged Brentford side at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to send the Gunners top of the Premier League. 

A goal to the good thanks to Declan Rice's early header, the Gunners looked to have a comfortable afternoon in store, but a howling error from Aaron Ramsdale - deputising for the ineligible David Raya - saw Yoane Wissa level the score at 1-1 going into the break. 

After the interval, Arsenal pushed hard for a winner, but were forced to wait until the dying moments of the game for Havertz to head into the roof of the net from Ben White's second assist of the encounter. 

Brentford had previously had clear chances of their own, Ramsdale making some amends for his earlier mistake with fantastic saves from both Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins. 

The Action: As expected prior to the contest, Arsenal started confidently and on the front foot, Brentford forced to defend deep in an attempt to frustrate Mikel Arteta's in-form side. 

When Brentford did venture into the Gunners' half they almost came unstuck - a Bees' corner in the first 15 minutes quickly leading to a counter-attack from Leandro Trossard that almost caught Brentford short at the back. 

Minutes after that close shave, however, Brentford fell behind to a goal manufactured down their opponent's potent right flank. 

Bukayo Saka passed the ball back to Ben White, and the England defender fed a teasing cross into the box, which his international team-mate Declan Rice headed past Mark Flekken in Brentford's goal. 

Thomas Frank's headaches increased as midfielder Christian Norgaard had to leave the field injured; the Norwegian replaced by Dane Mathias Jensen in the visitors' engine room. 

Arsenal continued to dominate and they could have extended their lead on 35 minutes when Kai Havertz found himself 1v1 only to chip wide of the target. 

It was all going to plan - until Gunners goalkeeper Ramsdale had a nightmare moment to forget. 

Deputising for the ineligible Brentford loanee David Raya, little had been asked of Ramsdale up until the 48th minute...when he inexplicably dallied on the ball and saw his attempted clearance rebound off Yoane Wissa into the net. 

Half-time: Arsenal 1-1 Brentford

Arsenal knew their title aspirations depended on securing victory at the Emirates and they started with intensity and intent after the break. 

However, Brentford almost took the lead on 55 minutes when Ivan Toney attempted a sensational long range effort with his left foot that drew an outstanding save from Ramsdale. 

The next 10 minutes resembled a siege as Arsenal ramped up the pressure in search of a second goal. A flurry of corners saw the Gunners go close on a number of occasions, notably through a Gabriel Magalhaes' header that somehow ended up in Flekken's hands after a couple of ricochets. 

Brentford retained their goal threat, though, and they were again inches from taking the lead when Nathan Collins met a Kristoffer Ajer cross to force another top save from Ramsdale, to help the Arsenal keeper on his quest for redemption after his earlier error. 

Arsenal were inevitably back on the attack soon afterwards, and only the frame of the goal separated Rice from his second goal of the game when he curled a lovely long range strike against the joint of the post/crossbar. 

With the clock ticking down and the Emirates crowd becoming increasingly desperate, Arsenal needed a matchwinner - and the often maligned German forward Havertz stepped up to the plate. 

White was again the creator for the Gunners, his break down the right and perfect cross allowing Havertz to power a header past the despairing dive of Flekken in Brentford's goal. 

After a lengthy spell of injury-time, the final whistle was greeted by a flurry of fist-pumps from Arteta - Arsenal now top of the table, with Liverpool and Man City set to go head-to-head tomorrow afternoon. 

xG: Arsenal (1.30) 2-1 (1.05) Brentford