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Premier League | Gameweek 13

Nov 25, 2023 at 5.30pm UK

Brentford Community Stadium

Brentford
0 - 1
Arsenal

Ajer (45+1')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Havertz (89')
Martinelli (56')

Kai Havertz nets late winner against Brentford to send Arsenal top

By Ben Sully | 25 November 2023

Arsenal's Kai Havertz comes off the bench to score a late winner against Brentford to send the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table.

Kai Havertz scored a late winner to guide Arsenal to a narrow 1-0 victory over Brentford, moving the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table.

A cagey first half only produced two real moments of goalmouth action, with Declan Rice denying Bryan Mbuemo on the goalline to spare Aaron Ramsdale's blushes, before Leandro Trossard had an effort ruled out for an offside infringement.

Despite dominating possession, Arsenal required another goalline clearance to keep Neal Maupay at bay in what was proving to be a difficult evening for Mikel Arteta's side.

However, their mood quickly changed when Havertz came off the bench to score an 89th-minute winner, heading home at the back post after meeting Bukayo Saka's inviting delivery.

Arsenal will finish matchday 13 in first position, while Brentford end the day in 11th place following their second successive defeat.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale reacts on November 25, 2023 © Reuters

After Manchester City and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, the Gunners went into the contest knowing that a win would move them to the top of the Premier League table.

With Brentford loanee David Raya ineligible to face his parent club, Ramsdale was given the chance to impress in his first Premier League appearance since September.

However, the England international was nearly punished for a nervy moment in the 13th minute when he was dispossessed inside his own box.

Fortunately for the Arsenal shot-stopper, Rice was on hand to clear Mbeumo's effort off the line, before Yoane Wissa sent the rebound harmlessly wide.

Despite struggling to produce their best football in the first period, Arsenal thought that they had taken the lead in the 42nd minute when Trossard nodded in from close range after Mark Flekken parried Gabriel Jesus's initial header.

Brentford were ultimately given a reprieve after VAR ruled Trossard had taken up an offside position, denying the Belgium international a fourth Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus in action with Brentford's Ethan Pinnock on November 25, 2023 © Reuters

With neither side able to break the deadlock in the first period, Mbeumo attempted to open the scoring in the 53rd minute, but he could only drag his effort wide.

Although the Gunners were controlling possession, they were finding clear-cut chances hard to come by, as the disciplined Brentford defence stood firm.

The Bees continued to offer their own threat, with substitute Maupay going agonisingly close to finding the net, only to be denied by Oleksandr Zinchenko's last-ditch goalline clearance.

As the contest hit the 80th-minute mark, Rice threatened with a deflected strike that fizzed narrowly wide of Flekken's goal.

With the encounter seemingly heading towards a goalless draw, Havertz snatched all three points with a dramatic late winner.

Saka's deep cross found the Germany international, who nodded the ball through the legs of Flekken to register his second Arsenal goal and spark scenes of jubilation among the away support.

The Gunners will now turn their attention to Wednesday's crucial Champions League fixture against Lens, while the Bees will begin preparations for a home clash with Luton Town next weekend.