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

Jamie Carragher teases Martin Odegaard about Arsenal photographer after 6-0 win

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 LIVE: Latest Premier League updates

• FULL TIME! Havertz heads late winner as Arsenal beat Brentford 2-1
• Gunners go top for first time since Christmas ahead of Liverpool vs Man City tomorrow
• 86’ GOAL! Havertz scores late header from another White cross (2-1)
• 45+3’ GOAL! Ramsdale makes huge error as he is closed down by Wissa (1-1)
• 19’ GOAL! Rice heads sixth PL goal of the season from White cross (1-0)

[9 March 2024 15:00 · Jamie Braidwood]

Good afternoon

Arsenal have the chance to go top of the Premier League for the first time since Christmas as the Gunners host Brentford tonight. A run of seven wins in a row in the Premier League while breaking several scoring records has helped the Gunners close the gap on title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, who meet at Anfield tomorrow lunchtime.

But Mikel Arteta’s side can leapfrog both before then as they go in search of an eighth consecutive league victory. Arsenal have scored 31 goals during their winning run, and in beating Sheffield United 6-0 on Monday night they became they first team in English football history to win three away games in a row by five goals or more. Arsenal have also been on fire at home - and they put Newcastle to the sword on their last outing in north London.

Brentford will be out to frustrate Arsenal and boost their survival bid, as Thomas Frank’s side managed last season with a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. Ivan Toney was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January, before Arteta’s forwards found their stunning goalscoring form. Could the England striker return to haunt the Gunners once more?

Follow live updates from Arsenal vs Brentford in today’s match blog