Arsenal stun Brentford to go top despite Ramsdale’s goalkeeping error

Kai Havertz’s late header secured Arsenal a vital 2-1 win over Brentford and spared Aaron Ramsdale’s embarrassment as the Gunners moved top of the Premier League.

Ramsdale’s disastrous error that saw Yoane Wissa equalise late in the first half looked as if it might cost Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s huge title showdown between Liverpool and Man City at Anfield.

However, Havertz delivered with a header late on, just as he did in the reverse fixture in November, to take Arsenal a point clear of Liverpool and two of City with their eighth consecutive league win.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank felt Havertz should have been sent off before scoring the winner for an apparent dive in the final half hour, having already been booked for an elbow earlier in the game.

“It is a clear dive,” said Frank. “That should have been a second yellow and a red card. And then he wouldn’t have been able to score a winner.”

Declan Rice had headed Arsenal in front after 19 minutes following a bright start from the hosts but saw his goal cancelled out by Wissa as he capitalised on Ramsdale’s dawdling in possession.

Speaking after the game, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz to Sky Sports that the team did not play as expected despite the win.

“Massive, massive win for us. We were so desperate to get these three points. They were so important to us. You could see that, especially in the second half.

“We came in at half-time and wanted to turn it around. We didn’t play at our best in the first half but to win it that way is sometimes even better.

“It always feel nice to have three points in the bag but, to be honest, we talked a lot about it in the dressing room and we just try to focus on ourselves because we cannot change what the other teams are doing.

“Now we go onto the next competition. We look forward to that and I hope it’s going to be another special night for us.”

Sky Sports