Kai Havertz came off the bench to score a late header and send Arsenal top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Brentford on Saturday.
Aaron Ramsdale made a shaky return on his first start since September due to David Raya being ineligible to face his parent club and was spared by a superb goalline clearance from Declan Rice in the first half after making an error.
Arsenal thought they had taken the lead when Leandro Trossard nodded in before the break but he was ruled offside following a VAR check.
Brentford pushed for a winner in the second half as Arsenal stuttered.
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The Gunners, however, had Oleksandr Zinchenko to thank for making a goalline block to deny substitute Neal Maupay before snatching victory in the final minute when Havertz headed in from Bukayo Saka’s cross.
Havertz was a Champions League final hero for Chelsea in 2021, but he has endured a torrid time since crossing London to join Arsenal in the close-season.
The 24-year-old midfielder’s second goal for Arsenal was his first in his last 10 appearances, moving his team one point clear of second placed Manchester City, who were held to a 1-1 draw by third placed Liverpool earlier in the day.
Brentford host Luton in the Premier League on Saturday, December 3.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are in Champions League action on Wednesday when they host RC Lens.
They then host Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, December 2.
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