Havertz’s late goal fires Arsenal top of Premier League table

Kai Havertz came off the bench and scored a late header to lift Arsenal to the top of the Premier League standings with a 1-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.

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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 grateful at times that the hosts didn’t punish some simple errors from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

However, 10 minutes after coming off the bench, Havertz scored in the 89th minute, heading in Bukayo Saka’s cross to return Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table.

Ramsdale was in the spotlight for the first time since September 3rd, with David Raya, the club’s seemingly indisputable number one, still on loan from Brentford and unable to face his parent club.

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.

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.