By Samuel A. November 26, 2023
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. Arsenal initially thought they had taken the lead when Leandro Trossard nodded in before the break, but the goal was ruled offside following a VAR check. Brentford then pushed for a winner in the second half as Arsenal stuttered. The Gunners had Oleksandr Zinchenko to thank for making a goalline block to deny substitute Neal Maupay just before snatching victory in the final minute when Havertz headed in from Bukayo Saka’s cross. Life as a questioned £65m signing couldn’t have gotten more relieving for the German international, as he had been faced with intense scrutiny day in, day out since his switch from Chelsea, with fans and pundits debating his best position, his form and whether he even belongs in an Arsenal shirt.
With Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus fit to return to the starting XI, Havertz was dropped to the bench and forced to watch as the Gunners laboured against a resolute Brentford defence. However, when summoned in the final stages of the game, he found a priceless goal, heading home from close range to seal a win that moved them top of the Premier League table and also adding another one to his catalog of important goals tally. Famously, his goal in the 2021 Champions League final for Chelsea secured victory against favourites Manchester City, and his penalty vs Palmeiras secured the Club World Cup for the Blues.
“These late winners are nice and to celebrate in front of the fans was a good feeling,” Havertz said post match. “I have tried to put my ego aside and the team is the important thing. We played well and deserved to win.”
Prior to Saturday evening, Havertz’s only Gunners goal was a penalty in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth in September, although he did score for his country a week ago while lining up at leftback.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes this could be the moment that ignites Havertz’s time at Arsenal.
“This could be the catalyst to the next stage of his career,” he said. “That is why they bought him, to score big goals in big moments. Arsenal fans have questioned him but he needed that. The team needed that.”
After top two Manchester City and Liverpool drew in Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff, Arsenal knew they had to get the job done to secure top spot.
However, he also knew it would not be easy against opponents that had not lost in 14 London derbies.”When you have an opportunity to take a bite out of everybody, you have to do it,” he said. “It was very cold and it is difficult coming to Brentford. I loved the way we competed.”
Given Arsenal’s struggles going forward, this result was particularly decided by spectacular goalsaving clearances from Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
With only 10 goals conceded, the Gunners have the best defensive record in the Premier League. The narrow win makes Mikel Arteta become the Arsenal manager with most wins in his first 200 games, having won 116 of his 200 gamesbin charge of Arsenal in all competitions.
