Kai Havertz scored a late goal against Brentford to catapult Arsenal to the top of the Premier League and save Aaron Ramsdale’s blushes.
Declan Rice had put the Gunners ahead after 19 minutes, but on the stroke of half-time Ramsdale suffered a calamity.
The goalkeeper hesitated over the ball and was intercepted by Yoane Wissa, whose intervention caused the ball to end up in the Arsenal goal just before half-time.
Havertz’s latest winner released the Emirates cork as a sea of ​​red exploded in ecstasy. This was not a pretty victory, but it was a victory and that was all that mattered.
Here are Riath Al-Samarrai’s ratings for the game.
Kai Havertz scored a convincing winner to send Arsenal to the top of the Premier League
It wasn’t a luxury performance from Arsenal, but they did show determination and desire.
Arsenal
Aaron Ramsdale – 6.5
After gifting a goal to Yoane Wissa with a lapse of concentration, Ramsdale faced a mental test. And he rose to the occasion. He made some crucial saves in the second half, including a stunning long shot from Ivan Toney, to prove his worth.
Ben Blanco – 7.5
Arsenal look so good with pure full-backs. White was a threat down the wing, providing crosses for Rice and Havertz’s goals.
William Saliba – 6
Overall, he handled the physical chops and lunges with Toney well.
Gabriel – 6
He made the back pass that led to Wissa’s goal, but there wasn’t much wrong with it. A quiet afternoon. Brentford had a few opportunities to give Arsenal a better defender, but it was a pretty solid night.
Aaron Ramsdale had the world on his shoulders after conceding a calamitous error but made up for it with vital saves in the second half.
Ben White was instrumental in Arsenal’s victory, setting up both goals with fine crosses.
Jakub Kiwior – 6
Kiwior is making the left-back position his own and has retained the position even with the return of Oleksandr Zinchenko. Another reliable afternoon.
Martin Odegaard – 7
Constantly seeking to make things happen. He set up White very well before finding Havertz for the winner.
Jorginho – 7
A metronomic pulse of this Arsenal. As a midfield fulcrum, he is the anchor that allows creativity to emerge in front of him and also contributes his own quality. Another good performance.
Declan Rice – 7.5
Since moving to the left of midfield, Rice has been an even bigger revelation. He now has six goals to his name this season after scoring the first goal. He can do everything.
Martin Odegaard once again put in a quality performance in midfield despite the fact that the match was very physical
Bukayo Saka – 7
Once again influential without being on the scoresheet or getting an assist. He connected well with White before the first goal with a nice exchange of passes.
Kai Havertz – 7.5
It marked the winner and sent an exclamation point to north London. Havertz has now scored in four consecutive games. He is making people eat his words and then he is making people devour them. Fundamental to Arsenal’s success and highlighted as a false nine.
Leandro Trossard – 6
Overshadowed by his teammates and replaced by Reiss Nelson after 80 minutes. It’s not bad, but there is little to highlight.
Declan Rice is playing superbly in left midfield and scored his sixth goal of the season.
Substitutes
Gabriel Jesus (Jorginho 70)
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Kiwior 80)
Reiss Nelson (Trossard 90)
Thomas Partey (Odegaard 90)
Not used: Hein, Cedric, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nketiah
Manager: Mikel Arteta – 6.5
He didn’t put on a glamorous show like some of their recent victories, but his team showed the courage to fight back after the Ramsdale setback. A victory as valid as any other.
Referee Robert Jones should have given Kai Havertz a second yellow card after his dive in the box in the second half.
Referee: Robert Jones – 5
Arguably Kai Havertz should have been given a second yellow for diving after not receiving any contact from Nathan Collins in the area in the second half.
Brentford
Brentford (3-5-2): Flekken 6.5; Jorgensen 6, Ajer 6.5, Collins 7; Roerslev 5.5, Onyeka 6 (Yarmoliuk 78), Norgaard 6 (Jensen 34, 6.5), Janelt 6, Lewis-Potter 6; Toney 6, Wissa 7 (Maupay 78).
Unused subs: Strakosha, Ghoddos, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Kim, Arthur
Reserved: Onyeka, Zanka, Jorgensen
Manager: Thomas Frank 6.5