Arsenal 2-1 Brentford: Kai Havertz secures vital win for Mikel Arteta's side in title race after Aaron Ramsdale howler

Kai Havertz's late header secured Arsenal a vital 2-1 win over Brentford and spared Aaron Ramsdale's embarrassment as the Gunners moved top of the Premier League.

Ramsdale's disastrous error that saw Yoane Wissa equalise late in the first half looked as if it might cost Arsenal ahead of Sunday's huge title showdown between Liverpool and Man City at Anfield - live on Sky Sports.

However, Havertz delivered with a header late on, just as he did in the reverse fixture in November, to take Arsenal a point clear of Liverpool and two of City with their eighth consecutive league win.

Live Super Sunday

Brentford boss Thomas Frank felt Havertz should have been sent off before scoring the winner for an apparent dive in the final half hour, having already been booked for an elbow earlier in the game.

"It is a clear dive," said Frank. "That should have been a second yellow and a red card. And then he wouldn't have been able to score a winner."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• How the teams lined up | Match stats
• Premier League table | Watch free Premier League highlights
• Get Sky Sports | NOW Sports Month Membership - just £21 a month for 12 months

Declan Rice had headed Arsenal in front after 19 minutes following a bright start from the hosts but saw his goal cancelled out by Wissa as he capitalised on Ramsdale dawdling in possession.

Brentford fought hard to stay in the game but eventually caved and are just five points above the relegation zone as their winless run stretches to five games.

How Arsenal held their nerve in title race

Arsenal began the game with a purpose that could be felt coursing around the Emirates, with everyone acutely aware of the importance of victory ahead of Sunday's game at Anfield. Brentford struggled to cope with the early intensity of their opponents.

Brentford survived unforced errors in possession by Nathan Collins and Mark Flekken but the nervous visitors appeared destined to be the latest victim of an Arsenal thrashing. Thomas Frank's side held on after the initial onslaught but eventually the pressure told.

Rice delivered the goal Arsenal had been pushing for as he headed in Ben White's cross after 19 minutes, scoring in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time in his career. The midfielder has 11 goal contributions in the league this season (six goals, five assists).

There was a twist at the end of the half though as Ramsdale made a calamitous error in his first league start since the reverse fixture in November. Wissa closed down the Arsenal goalkeeper and turned his clearance into the back of the net.

"He must just want the ground to open up," Alan Smith said of Arsenal's deputy goalkeeper on co-commentary for Sky Sports. "A complete nightmare for Ramsdale."

Ivan Toney came close to scoring a goal of the season contender early in the second half after spotting Ramsdale off his line. Had it not been for the outstretched arm of the Arsenal goalkeeper, Brentford would have taken the lead through the 40-yard strike.

Arsenal remained dominant in the second half but were frustrated by Brentford's gamesmanship as the visitors slowed the game down. Gabriel came close, seeing his header cleared off the line, while Rice struck the upright with a long-range effort.

Ramsdale had to be alive to rush off his line when substitute Neal Maupay was nearly played through for Brentford in the closing stages, having already kept out Kristoffer Ajer at a corner with a good reaction save.

Tension could be felt around the Emirates as the clock ticked down but Havertz, scoring in his fourth consecutive league game, headed in White's cross to send the crowd home happy ahead of a massive game in the title race at Anfield on Sunday - live on Sky Sports

Arteta: I'm so happy for 'exceptional' Havertz

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Kai Havertz:

"I'm so happy. If somebody told me after the first two or three months that the whole stadium would be singing his song with that passion, with that feeling, with that chemistry, I would have found it hard to believe.

"That's what happens to good people. He's an exceptional player. When he starts to score goals like this and everything starts to flow people feel more connected with him.

"They see his work-rate, they see his intelligence, they see how he plays for the team and how he's contributing. It's impossible not to love him."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

On Ramsdale's recovery after his error: "I'm really happy especially because he did exactly what he is, which is a person with huge personality and courage, very determined.

"Errors are part of football. It's how you react to it, especially for the 'keepers which is probably the most difficult position. He did so in an amazing way. I'm not surprised because the whole team and the whole stadium was behind him.

"He has earned that respect and admiration. We really wanted to win for him."

Frank: Havertz should have been sent off

Brentford boss Thomas Frank:

"Havertz is a clear, clear dive. I wish they would just admit it. I don't know if he has because that happens all the time, every week someone is doing it. I know it happens.

"That should of course have been a second yellow and a red card. And then he wouldn't be able to score the winner and hopefully maybe we would have gained a little bit more momentum, maybe to win the game."

Havertz: Even better to win it like that

Arsenal's Kai Havertz to Sky Sports:

"Massive, massive win for us. We were so desperate to get these three points. They were so important to us. You could see that, especially in the second half.

We came in at half-time and wanted to turn it around. We didn't play at our best in the first half but to win it that way is sometimes even better.

"It always feel nice to have three points in the bag but, to be honest, we talked a lot about it in the dressing room and we just try to focus on ourselves because we cannot change what the other teams are doing.

"Now we go onto the next competition. We look forward to that and I hope it's going to be another special night for us."

The stats that make good reading for Arsenal

• Arsenal are only the fourth side to win each of their first eight Premier League games of a calendar year; the previous three all went on to win the title that year (Man Utd in 2009, Liverpool in 2020, Man City in 2021).
• Arsenal have scored 70 goals in their 28 Premier League games this season, the earliest into a league campaign they have scored 70+ goals since 1963-64 (27th game).
• Arsenal have won eight consecutive Premier League games for the first time since April 2015 under Arsène Wenger.
• Arsenal's Kai Havertz has scored in four consecutive Premier League appearances, the best run of his career in the competition, netting as many goals in this run (4) as his previous 32 league matches beforehand.
• Ben White provided two assists in the same game for the first time, and was the first Arsenal defender to assist twice in a single match in the competition since Hector Bellerin vs Sheffield United in October 2020.

What's next?

Arsenal host FC Porto in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit. Kick-off 8pm. Arsenal then face title rivals Manchester City after the international break on Sunday March 31, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 4.30pm.

Brentford head to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday March 16. Kick-off 3pm.

Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!

You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!

Find out more here.

Win £500,000 with Super 6!

The Super 6 Rollover returns! You could win up to £1,000,000 this month. Play for free.