Arsenal 2-1 Brentford – Kai Havertz scores dramatic late winner to send Arsenal top and keep title hopes alive

An 86th-minute winner from Kai Havertz earned Arsenal a huge three points in their bid to win the title by beating Brentford 2-1.

Havertz guided home a late header from a Ben White cross to settle an edgy game that Arsenal had dominated.

A header from Declan Rice gave Arsenal an early lead, only for it to be wiped out after an error from Aaron Ramsdale in injury time in the first half. Yoan Wissa blindsided Ramsdale to charge down a clearance and send it into the net.

Ramsdale redeemed himself in the second half with two fine saves from Ivan Toney and James Collins, while Rice hit the crossbar as Arsenal probed for a winning goal.

Havertz’s late intervention made it eight wins in a row in the Premier League for Arsenal. They are now in first place in the table, with their next league game away to title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.

There has been a lot of talk about the displays of emotion of Arsenal’s players, both this season and last, as they attempt to bring the title back to the club after two decades.

Whether it is wild celebrations of goals well before victory is in the bag, or borrowing cameras to celebrate when it is, there is an almost febrile energy that is driving this current run of eight wins. It seems a hybrid of the youthful vitality of the squad and manager and a home crowd baying for the title drought to be over.

Many pointed to this being part of Arsenal’s undoing on the run-in last season; this time around, could they make it work in their favour? A huge staging post in the title challenge is up next when they visit Manchester City. At a similar juncture last season a flat Arsenal could not lay a glove on City at the Etihad. This time around their frenzied, high-octane approach might – with an element of controlled application – yield something more positive.

In the pocket between Brentford’s midfield and defence, Odegaard did what he pleased. His adroit use of the ball, moved quickly from left to right and forward and back again, wore Brentford down over the course of the match.

Arsenal: Ramsdale 6; White 7, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Kiwior 6; Rice 7, Jorginho 7, Odegaard 8; Saka 6, Havertz 7, Trossard 6

SUBS: Partey 6, Jesus 6, Smith Rowe, Nelson 6, Zinchenko 6

Brentford: Flekken 6; Roerslav 7, Jorgensen 6, Ajer 6, Collins 5, Lewis-Potter 6; Norgaard 6, Onyeka 5, Janelt 6; Wissa 7, Toney 7

SUBS: Maupay 6, Jensen 6, Ghoddos 6, Damsgaard 6, Yarmoliuk 6

19′ GOAL! ARSENAL 1 (RICE 19) BRENTFORD 0 There’s a goal for The Gunners though. It’s that man Rice again, as he rises near the penalty spot to meet a cross from White and guide a header into the bottom corner.

45+3′ GOAL! ARSENAL 1 BRENTFORD 1 (WISSA 45+3′) Oh my word, we’re level and it’s a shocking mistake! Arsenal knock it around at the back, just killing time, and roll it to Ramsdale in the six-yard box. Ramsdale takes too many steps to line up a launch downfield, and Wissa slides in to block his kick; the ball ricochets into the net, and it’s one each! Gadzooks.

55′ WHAT AN EFFORT! Brentford hack a clearance out of defence, and from 40 yards out Toney guides a 40-yard lob at the Arsenal goal, with Ramsdale off his line. It’s a stunning effort, and produces a fine save from Ramsdale who palms it wide at full stretch for a corner. Had that cleared Ramsdale, it was a goal.

74′ CLANG! Rice almost gets a second! The corner is cleared to the edge of the D and Rice strokes a lazy side-footer to the top corner, which hits the point of post and bar and goes out with Flekken rooted. That was a gorgeous strike.

86′ GOAL! ARSENAL 2 (HAVERTZ 86) BRENTFORD 1 Arsenal lead! They work a patient move, and once more get White into a crossing position on the right byline. This time his cross is perfect, zipped onto the head of Havertz in the six yard box. Havertz thumps his header at goal, and Flekken gets a hand on it but can’t keep it out!

• Kai Havertz has now scored in each of his last four Premier League matches.