An 86th-minute winner from Kai Havertz earned Arsenal a huge three points in their bid to win the title by beating Brentford 2-1.
Havertz guided home a late header from a Ben White cross to settle an edgy game that Arsenal had dominated.
A header from Declan Rice gave Arsenal an early lead, only for it to be wiped out after an error from Aaron Ramsdale in injury time in the first half. Yoan Wissa blindsided Ramsdale to charge down a clearance and send it into the net.
Ramsdale redeemed himself in the second half with two fine saves from Ivan Toney and James Collins, while Rice hit the crossbar as Arsenal probed for a winning goal.
Havertz’s late intervention made it eight wins in a row in the Premier League for Arsenal. They are now in first place in the table, with their next league game away to title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.
There has been a lot of talk about the displays of emotion of Arsenal’s players, both this season and last, as they attempt to bring the title back to the club after two decades.
Whether it is wild celebrations of goals well before victory is in the bag, or borrowing cameras to celebrate when it is, there is an almost febrile energy that is driving this current run of eight wins. It seems a hybrid of the youthful vitality of the squad and manager and a home crowd baying for the title drought to be over.
Many pointed to this being part of Arsenal’s undoing on the run-in last season; this time around, could they make it work in their favour? A huge staging post in the title challenge is up next when they visit Manchester City. At a similar juncture last season a flat Arsenal could not lay a glove on City at the Etihad. This time around their frenzied, high-octane approach might – with an element of controlled application – yield something more positive. (Eurosport)
