Arsenal vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and final score after late Kai Havertz goal
Arsenal 2-1 Brentford: Havertz was the hero as the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Liverpool vs Man City
Kai Havertz headed Arsenal back to the top of the table as he finally broke Brentford’s stubborn resistance to claim an eighth successive Premier League win.
Havertz’s 86th-minute goal, his fourth in as many league outings, sealed a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium in a game which remained in the balance until the final whistle after keeper Aaron Ramsdale’s error had gifted the Bees an equaliser.
Ramsdale’s blunder in first-half stoppage time allowed Yoanne Wissa to cancel out Declan Rice’s opener, but Havertz struck with four minutes remaining to leave the Gunners in pole position ahead of Sunday’s mouth-watering clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.
Follow live updates from Arsenal vs Brentford in today’s match blog, and get all the latest match odds and tips, here:
Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
25 mins: Arsenal close to a quick second. After lovely feet from Odegaard, Havertz tries his luck with a snapshot. Flekken gathers.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brentford (RICE 19')
WHAT A HEADER FROM RICE! ARSENAL LEAD!
Arsenal had a decent shout for a penalty but they keep the pressure on and White clips a good ball into the box. Still, there was a lot of work for Rice to do, but he powered the header down past Flekken and into the corner!
The England midfielder is enjoying his best season in terms of goals in the Premier League and now has his sixth of the campaign. Big goal for Arsenal.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
16 mins: Brentford get the first shot on target of the match as Toney heads at Ramsdale from a corner... but it leads to ARsenal’s best chance of the match!
Ramsdale catches Toney’s header and then springs the counter - releasing Trossard! But Roerslev gets back well and Brentford recover to slow Trossard down.
Arsenal could have done with Martinelli’s pace there...
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
12 mins: Almost a chance for Toney. Saliba misses the ball and it breaks to Toney in the box. Gabriel stands him up and then Saliba recovers, to hook the ball away before Toney could shoot.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
9 mins: Now a booking for Arsenal as Gabriel is caught under the ball and tugs on Wissa’s shirt just outside the box. It’s a promising position for Brentford.
It’s wasted by Lewis-Potter, hit straight out of play neither as a cross or a shot.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
7 mins: Brentford are looking very shaky. The goalkeeper Flekken passes straight out into the midfield but Arsenal are unable to punish them. Saka gets to the byline but Brentford close out the cross.
The hosts are in control, but Ramsdale then gives away possession cheaply with an overhit pass out to White that runs out of play.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
4 mins: An early booking for Brentford’s Onyeka, who slides in and trips Trossard from behind.
Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
2 mins: Almost a fast start for Arsenal! Brentford give it away, passing straight to Saka. His cross towards Trossard is only just cleared by Roerslev, out for a corner.
There, Rice whips it in, looking for Kiwior, and Brentford only just survive. Rice’s cross runs straight through.
KICK-OFF! Arsenal 0-0 Brentford
Underway at the Emirates!
Gareth Southgate is here today ahead of naming his England squad next week.
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