Kai Havertz avoided Ramsdale’s blushes with a crucial late goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brentford as Arsenal moved top of the Premier League in dramatic fashion. Mikel Arteta’s side were minutes away from a damaging draw after Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale equalized for Ioane Visa. Declan Rice gave Arsenal the lead early in the first half, but Ramsdale waited too long to clear before the break and Visa took the opportunity to deflect the ball into the net. Havertz ensured Arsenal did not miss the chance to go top of the table with a bullet header four minutes after the final whistle at a jubilant Emirates Stadium.
The north Londoners’ eight-match winning streak in the league puts them one point ahead of previous leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal will maintain their lead on goal difference if second-placed Liverpool and third-placed Manchester City draw in Sunday’s blockbuster clash at Anfield.
“Tomorrow will be a good day to watch a good football match. It’s not in my hands,” Arteta said.
“It’s great to be a part of this alliance and it’s great to be a part of something special that we are trying to achieve.”
The much-maligned Kai Havertz’s ninth goal since moving from Chelsea underlined Arsenal’s desire to make up for the eight-point lead they lost in the title race last season.
“We showed courage and we were rewarded,” Arteta said. “That’s the beauty of this stadium. They back it up (after) the mistake.”
Arsenal will try to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Porto in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday, with their next Premier League game against Manchester City on March 31.
The Gunners came out of the January training camp in Dubai with renewed energy, scoring 33 goals and conceding just four during their winning run.
Arsenal maintained their strong momentum in Monday’s 6-0 win over Sheffield United and they were quick to attack Brentford.
Arsenal monopolized possession with pace, pushing Brentford deeper and deeper before finally taking the lead in the 19th minute.
Ben White delivered a perfect cross from the right and Rice rose highest to head past Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flecken from 10 yards. Flekken).
It was the former West Ham United midfielder’s sixth goal in an impressive first season with the Gunners.
goalkeeper error
Leandro Trossard’s long-range shot was well blocked by Flecken, but Arsenal were so dominant that it seemed only a matter of time before they scored again.
Instead, Ramsdale’s error silenced the Emirates Stadium in first-half stoppage time.
Gabriel’s backpass should have been dealt with by the Arsenal goalkeeper, but he took too long to clear inside the six-yard box, allowing Visa to close him down and slide to deflect the ball into the net.
Ramsdale looked distraught as he took the ball, and several teammates went out of his way to comfort him as he trudged toward the tunnel at halftime.
It was Ramsdale’s first league start since the Gunners’ last meeting with Brentford on November 25, as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper David Raya is not eligible to face his parent club.
The Arsenal fans applauded the England international when he returned for the second half.
Ramsdale partly redeemed himself with a fine save to keep out Ivan Toney’s audacious shot into the top corner from 30 yards out.
Ramsdale produced another fine save to overturn Collins’ close-range header as tensions mounted.
Rice was inches away from regaining Arsenal’s lead when his curling shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar.
With time running out, Havertz scored in the 86th minute.
He found space inside the six-yard box, received White’s cross and fired in a powerful header, sparking wild celebrations from Arteta on the touchline as Arsenal’s title dreams came true.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
