Arsenal vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and final score after late Kai Havertz goal
Arsenal 2-1 Brentford: Havertz was the hero as the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Liverpool vs Man City
Kai Havertz headed Arsenal back to the top of the table as he finally broke Brentford’s stubborn resistance to claim an eighth successive Premier League win.
Havertz’s 86th-minute goal, his fourth in as many league outings, sealed a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium in a game which remained in the balance until the final whistle after keeper Aaron Ramsdale’s error had gifted the Bees an equaliser.
Ramsdale’s blunder in first-half stoppage time allowed Yoanne Wissa to cancel out Declan Rice’s opener, but Havertz struck with four minutes remaining to leave the Gunners in pole position ahead of Sunday’s mouth-watering clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.
Follow live updates from Arsenal vs Brentford in today’s match blog, and get all the latest match odds and tips, here:
Arsenal vs Brentford
The players are out at the Emirates! There is a sea of red and yellow flags behind Aaron Ramsdale’s goal as Arsenal look to extend their winning run in the Premier League.
A big roar for the returning Arsenal goalkeeper, too.
Arsenal vs Brentford
Today’s Premier League results
Manchester United 2-0 Everton
Wolves 2-1 Fulham
Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton
Bournemouth 2-2 Sheffiled United
Arsenal vs Brentford
All set for kick-off in North London.
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures?
The Premier League is heading for a classic title race, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal set for a three-way battle as we approach the run-in.
Tomorrow will stage what could be the final clash between Klopp’s Liverpool and Guardiola’s City, in what is a potential title decider at Anfield. The Premier League will then return from March’s international break for another blockbuster fixture, as Arteta’s side visit the Etihad to take on the champions, having already beaten City earlier this season.
After that, as the Premier League title race enters April, the run-in can truly begin. But which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost.
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures in the run-in?
Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all have tricky tests to pass as the Premier League title race hots up, but who has the best run-in?
Can Ivan Toney return to haunt Arsenal?
Rewind a couple of month and Arsenal were short of goals and linked with a £100m move for Ivan Toney.
The striker, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season, returned from his eight-month suspension for betting offences with Arteta reportedly keen to sign him.
Toney stayed at the Bees and has now entered the final 18 months of his contract as he look to guide Brentford towards safety.
He has scored four times in eight appearances since his return - but has not managed any in his last three games.
Could that change today? Toney scored an equaliser at the Emirates last season as Brentford came away with a 1-1 draw.
Arteta praises Kai Havertz amid best Arsenal run
Kai Havertz is enjoying his best run of form for Arsenal having scored in his last three matches, after a tricky initial spell after his big-money move from Chelsea.
Arteta said: “It says a lot about his character and how he’s dealt with those question marks. He has a good attitude all the time when things don’t go well in certain phases of the game.
“He continues to work hard. We can see his mentality, his intelligence on the pitch and the personality he has. We’re very happy with him.
“His ability to occupy space and aggression in high press is very good. Those are attributes which are very good for us.”
Arsenal vs Brentford team news
There’s no Gabriel Martinelli in the Arsenal squad after picking up a “cut” to his right foot in the win over Sheffield United. The winger is replaced by Leandro Trossard and the only other change is also enforced, and expected, with Aaron Ramsdale coming in for David Raya. Oleksandr Zinchenko returns to the Arsenal bench.
Keane Lewis-Potter comes in for Brentford, who start Ivan Toney up front.
Arsenal vs Brentford line-ups! No Martinelli....
Confirmed line-ups
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Brentford: Flekken; Zanka, Ajer, Collins; Roerslev, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Lewis-Potter; Toney, Wissa
Arsenal vs Brentford team news dropping shortly...
Brentford have been ravaged by injuries, while Arteta has been boosted by several returning players to his squad. Will there be any surprises from the Arsenal boss, with his side in Champions League action against Porto on Tuesday?
Can Saka match best-ever Premier League season?
Bukayo Saka is one goal away from equalling his best-ever Premier League season already.
The England international hit 14 goals in 38 games last season, but has already managed 13 this campaign.
That includes seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances - while the 6-0 win at Bramall Lane was first time he had not scored in the league since January.
Saka has 16 for the season in all competitions, which is already his best return.
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