Super-sub Kai Havertz heads Arsenal to Premier League summit.
With a late victory against Brentford, Kai Havertz came off the bench to propel Arsenal to the top of the Premier League.
Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at lunchtime opened the door for Arsenal to reclaim the top spot for the first time since May 2.
They didn’t look like it for 89 minutes against a tenacious Brentford team, and were glad at times that the hosts didn’t punish some simple errors from goalie Aaron Ramsdale.
However, 10 minutes after coming off the bench, Havertz scored at the far post to convert Bukayo Saka’s cross and return Arsenal to the top of the table for the first time since their title campaign fizzled out last season.
Ramsdale was in the spotlight for the first time since 3 September, with David Raya, the club’s seemingly indisputable number one, still on loan from Brentford and unable to face his parent club.
With his every move criticized by the Bees fans, the England goalie made a nervous start with a shanked clearance into touch, and then proceeded to almost gift Brentford an early goal.
Ramsdale immediately had the yips after exchanging passes with Gabriel after a goal kick, hesitating with his clearance and allowing Yoane Wissa to pull the ball away.
Declan Rice, fortunately for Ramsdale, had already noticed the danger and raced out to clear Bryan Mbeumo’s shot off the line, before Wissa pushed the rebound wide.
However, Ramsdale hid his face behind his shirt after making another embarrassing gaffe before halftime, allowing the ball to slip out of his grasp.
Super-sub Kai Havertz heads Arsenal to Premier League summit
Instead of flinging it upfield, he looked like a fast bowler, delivering a bouncer that was intercepted by Bees midfielder Frank Onyeka. However, the threat was immediately eliminated.
At the other end, Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, making his first Premier League appearance in a month, headed into the side-netting and blazed a shot over.
They did get the ball in the net just before half-time thanks to more inauspicious goalkeeping, this time from Mark Flekken, who palmed a Jesus header into the air, allowing Leandro Trossard to bundle it home, but VAR ruled the Belgian was offside.
Mikel Arteta, who launched his recent VAR rant after his side were beaten by a goal scored from a very similar position by Newcastle, looked on impassively from the touchline.
Brentford had chances after the break, with Mbeumo firing off target, Yehor Yarmoliuk shooting straight at Ramsdale and substitute Neal Maupay prodding wide from close range.
However, the Gunners won it when Saka swung in a cross from the right and Havertz ghosted in at the far post to plant his header past Flekken and relegate them to the bottom of the table.
