Ahead of Sunday's big showdown between title rivals Liverpool and Man City, a report and free match highlights as Arsenal secured a late victory. Declan Rice put Arsenal ahead with a header, but a mistake from Aaron Ramsdale allowed Ioan Wissa to equalize.Kai Havertz's late header puts Arsenal in the lead
Kai Havertz's late header gave Arsenal a vital 2-1 win against Brentford, escaping Aaron Ramsdale's embarrassment and lifting the Gunners to the top of the Premier League.
Ramsdale's disastrous error that allowed Ioan Wissa to equalize late in the first half looked to put Arsenal in jeopardy ahead of Sunday's huge title showdown between Liverpool and Man City at Anfield. – Live streaming Sky Sports.
However, just like the comeback in November, Havertz scored a header in the final minute, giving Arsenal a one-point lead over Liverpool and a two-goal lead over City, securing their eighth straight league win.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank felt Havertz had been booked for an elbow early in the game and should have been sent off before scoring the winning goal with an apparent dive with 30 minutes remaining.
“It's an obvious jump,” Frank said. “That would have been a second yellow card and a red card. Then he wouldn't have been able to score the winning goal.”
Was match-winner Kai Havertz lucky to avoid being sent off after the Arsenal forward went easily to the ground, despite having already been given a yellow card against Brentford?
Arsenal took the lead in the 19th minute with Declan Rice's header after a strong start from the home side, but his goal was canceled out by Wissa as Ramsdale were staggering in possession.
Brentford fought hard to stay but ultimately slumped, with their winless run stretching to five games and just five points above the relegation zone.
How Arsenal kept their nerve in the title race
Arsenal started the game with a purpose that felt all around the Emirates, with everyone acutely aware of the importance of winning heading into Sunday's game at Anfield. Brentford struggled to cope with their opponents' early intensity.
Brentford escaped unforced errors in possession by Nathan Collins and Mark Frecken, but the nervous visitors looked destined to become the latest victims of Arsenal's clash. Thomas Frank's side held out after the initial onslaught, but the pressure ultimately told the story.
Rice scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time in his career, heading home Ben White's cross to score Arsenal's goal after 19 minutes. The midfielder has contributed to 11 goals in the league this season (6 goals, 5 assists).
However, Ramsdale made a disastrous mistake in their first league start since their comeback in November, and there were twists and turns at the end of the first half. Wissa closed in on the Arsenal goalkeeper and slotted his clearance into the back of the net.
“I'm sure he just wants the ground to open up,” Alan Smith said of Arsenal's secondary goalkeeper in co-commentary with Mr. S.chi sports. “It’s a complete nightmare for Ramsdale.”
Ivan Toney removed Ramsdale from his own half and came close to scoring a potential goal of the season early in the second half. Brentford would have taken the lead with a 40-yard attack had Arsenal's goalkeeper not extended his arm.
Arsenal continued to dominate in the second half, but were frustrated by Brentford's gamesmanship as the visitors slowed the pace of the game. Gabriel came close with a header cleared on the goal line, but Rice smashed a long shot into the right field.
Ramsdale had to stay alive to rush off his line when substitute Neal Maupay, who replaced Brentford, was almost played through in the closing stages, but he had already made a good reaction save from Christopher Ajer in the corner. was preventing it.
There was a lot of tension around the Emirates as the clock ticked down, but Havertz, who has scored in four consecutive league games, headed home White's cross to seal the title race at Anfield on Sunday. He was the first to please the audience. sky sports
Arteta: very happy for 'extraordinary' Havertz
Mikel Arteta claims that Ramsdale showed his special personality by making a series of fine saves in the second half after making mistakes in the first half.
arsenal boss Mikel Arteta upon Kai Havertz:
“I'm so happy. If someone had told me after the first couple of months that the whole stadium would be singing his songs with that passion, with that emotion, with that chemistry, I would have a hard time believing it.” right.
“That's what happens to good people. He's an extraordinary player. When he starts scoring goals like this and everything starts flowing, people start to feel more connected to him.
“They see his work rate, his intelligence and how he plays and contributes for the team. It's impossible not to love him.”
Karen Carney and Jamie Redknapp discuss Ramsdale's performance against Brentford following a sloppy mistake by Arsenal's goalkeeper that led to Bees' equaliser.
On recovery after Ramsdale's mistake: “I’m really happy for him, especially because he did what he was: a man of great character and courage and a very strong determination.
“Errors are part of football. How you react to errors, especially for the keeper, which is probably the most difficult position. He did it in an amazing way, because the whole team, the whole stadium was behind him. , I'm not surprised.''
“He's earned that respect and admiration. We really wanted to win for him.”
Frank: Havertz should have been sent off
Brentford manager Thomas Frank:
“Havertz is an obvious dive. I wish they would admit it. I don't know if he does it because it happens all the time and someone does it every week. I knows it will happen.
“That obviously would have been a second yellow card and a red card, so he wouldn't have been able to score the winning goal and hopefully we could have gained a little bit more momentum and won the game. do not have.”
Havertz: It would be even better if we could win like that.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz To Sky Sports:
“It's a big, big win for us. We were desperate to get the three points. They were very important for us, especially in the second half.
We arrived at half-time and wanted to turn things around. We didn't play our best in the first half, but sometimes it's better to win like that.
“It always feels good to get three points, but to be honest we talked about it a lot in the dressing room and we can't change what the other team is doing so it's just a matter of ourselves. Just focus.”
“Now we move on to the next tournament, and we’re looking forward to it and I hope it’s another special night for us.”
Statistics to understand Arsenal
- Arsenal are only the fourth team to win each of their first eight Premier League games in a calendar year. The previous three all won the title in that year (Man United in 2009, Liverpool in 2020 and Man City in 2021).
- Arsenal have scored 70 goals in 28 Premier League games this season, marking the first time since the 1963-64 season (game 27) that they have scored 70 or more goals in a league match.
- Arsenal achieved eight consecutive wins in the Premier League for the first time since April 2015 under manager Arsene Wenger.
- Arsenal's Kai Havertz has scored in his fourth consecutive Premier League appearance, the highest of his career in the competition, and he has scored the same number of goals (4) in this game as in his previous 32 league games.
- Ben White has provided two assists in the same match for the first time, becoming the first Arsenal defender to do so in a single game in the same competition since Hector Bellerin vs. Sheffield United in October 2020. .
What's next?
arsenal host FC Porto They will be aiming to overturn the one-goal deficit in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Kickoff at 8pm.Arsenal will then face their title rivals city of manchester Live broadcast after the international break on Sunday 31st March sky sports. Kickoff at 4:30 p.m.
brentford go to burnley The Premier League kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 16th March.
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