They left it late, but all that matters for Mikel Arteta is Arsenal are top of the table for the first time this season. Above Manchester City. Above Liverpool. Above Tottenham. Above them all.
It was Kai Havertz who turned into their super substitute. Amid the debate surrounding where he should be used by Arteta, the back post seemed as good a place as any when he headed home their winner.
It was in the 89th minute when Havertz struck to secure victory on Arteta’s 200th match in charge, complete with a clean sheet for Aaron Ramsdale on his return to the team in David Raya’s absence.
At times it was uncomfortable to watch Ramsdale, like we were all witnessing a goalkeeper with the yips as he committed basic errors. You can only hope the securing of a clean sheet will give him confidence for his next appearance, whenever that may be.
It took less than a minute for Brentford’s supporters to taunt Ramsdale. ‘S*** David Raya,’ they sang at Arsenal’s second-choice goalkeeper. ‘You’re just a s*** David Raya.’
Kai Havertz scored an 89th minute winner to defeat Brentford 1-0 on Saturday night
The goal sends Arsenal top of the Premier League table, leapfrogging Manchester City and Liverpool after their 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday
Brentford kept Arsenal quiet for most of the match and almost came close in the first half, with Declan Rice clearing off the goaline after a mistake from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
Raya was ineligible for this game against his parent club, meaning Ramsdale was handed his first Premier League start in nearly three months. The 25-year-old Englishman was shaky from the start and, considering he is from Stoke-on-Trent, we cannot blame that entirely on his dubious decision to wear short sleeves on such a wintry evening.
Ramsdale was expected to pass out from the back as if he had never been away from the Arsenal line-up. Yet in the 13th minute, this caused chaos. A goal-kick taken short left Ramsdale in possession, all too aware that Brentford’s Yoane Wissa was sprinting to close him down.
Ramsdale panicked as Wissa won the ball before teeing up Bryan Mbeumo. Brentford thought the striker who has been magnificent in filling in for the banned Ivan Toney had a gift of a goal. But the instinctive Declan Rice retreated to the line to stop Mbeumo from opening the scoring.
From then on, whenever Ramsdale had the ball at his feet, Brentford’s supporters piled on the pressure. Raya tried his best to remain expressionless, knowing the Sky Sports cameras were on him as he watched from the bench.
As is the Brentford way when facing one of the Premier League’s big teams, Thomas Frank fielded a back three. Ethan Pinnock has arguably been their best player this season at the heart of their defence and Arsenal found Brentford difficult to break down throughout.
The visitors had a few chances here and there. In the 25th minute, Leandro Trossard should have done better when Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross found him unmarked. In the 30th, Gabriel Jesus tried a turn by the six-yard box. On another day, the Brazilian might have scored. On this day, Pinnock was there to make the block as he shadowed Jesus.
Then, it all went wrong for Ramsdale again. He tried to throw the ball upfield, but somehow threw it down into the ground instead. With two bloopers to his name, you got the sense that the Arsenal goalkeeper’s confidence was shot.
The only saving grace was it remained goalless and in the 41st minute, Arsenal were celebrating taking the lead. Bukayo Saka had been quiet by his standards but his cross led to a Jesus header which Mark Flekken palmed upward. Trossard rushed to head home as it dropped down.
‘We are top of the league,’ sang the visiting supporters, not realising VAR Michael Salisbury was primed to spoil their party from Stockley Park. One line was drawn to the goalscorer’s foot and another to the ball. Trossard was ahead of it and therefore offside.
But Havertz sealed the win after questions had been raised over the amount of goals he has scored this season for Arsenal, heading in past Mark Flekken
Brentford too had chances during the match, with Ivan Toney coming close in the first half
Arsenal could have gone a goal up just before half time after Leandro Trossard had a goal disallowed for offside
But it was a hard-fought win for the Gunners who are now undefeated in their last two matches across all competitions
It was also Mikel Arteta’s 200th match as the Arsenal manager, with the Spaniard having claimed more wins than Arsene Wenger in his first 200 games in the position
Thomas Frank’s side, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive loss but face Luton next weekend
As the half-time whistle was blown, Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana rushed on to greet Ramsdale, offering his reassurances. A significant 45 minutes was coming up if the visitors wanted to leap over Liverpool and Manchester City.
Brentford were unbeaten in their last 14 London derbies in the Premier League. In truth, Arsenal rarely looked like scoring in the second half and it was noticeable that Ramsdale routinely reverted to playing long passes rather than risk tiki-taka in his own box.
In the 77th minute, Brentford hoped they had scored when Neal Maupay’s header was bound for the bottom corner, only for yet another goal-line clearance to thwart them. This time it was Zinchenko who slid to make sure it stayed 0-0.
It did not stay that scoreline for long, however. In the 89th minute, there was a sucker-punch from Arsenal. Saka crossed to the back post where Havertz was perfectly placed to head home the winner. Quite the substitution from Arteta, as his team took over the top of the table.