Havertz takes Arsenal top England end Irish Grand Slam bid
Arsenal ............. 2
Brentford ......... 1
LONDON – Arsenal needed Kai Havertz’s late winner to go top of the Premier League by beating Brentford 2-1 yesterday.
Liverpool’s blockbuster clash against Manchester City at Anfield today gave the Gunners the chance to edge ahead in the title race. An eighth consecutive Premier League win took Mikel Arteta’s men one point ahead of Liverpool and two clear of defending champions City.
But they had to overcome a glaring error from Aaron Ramsdale on his return to the Arsenal goal. All seemed to be going to plan for the home side when Declan Rice continued his fine goalscoring form by heading in Ben
White’s cross on 19 minutes.
However, there was a sting in the tale in a moment Ramsdale will want to forget in first-half stoppage time. The England international was making just his second Premier League start since September as the on-loan David Raya was ineligible to feature against his parent club.
Ramsdale’s lack of match sharpness may have been a factor as he dallied on the ball as his attempted clearance ricocheted off Yoane Wissa into the net.
The Arsenal goalkeeper bounced back after the break to make vital saves from Ivan Toney’s spectacular effort and Nathan Collins’ header. Havertz then bulleted home a header from another White cross four minutes from time.
Third bottom Luton rescued a priceless 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace thanks to Cauley Woodrow’s last-gasp leveller. Oliver Glasner’s side struck in the 11th minute when Daniel Munoz teed up Jean-Philippe Mateta to flick home.
But Woodrow levelled from Andros Townsend’s cross six minutes into stoppage-time to leave Luton three points from safety.
Sheffield United moved off the bottom of the table, but blew a two-goal lead as Bournemouth hit back to rescue a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke missed a 14th minute penalty as the striker slipped in his run-up and ballooned the spot-kick over the bar. Gustavo Hamer and Jack Robinson struck to put the Blades into a shock lead.
Wolves improved their prospects of qualifying for Europe next season with a 2-1 win against Fulham at Molineux to climb up to eighth.
LONDON – Marcus Smith’s lastditch drop-goal saw England end Six Nations champions Ireland’s hopes of successive Grand Slams with a dramatic 23-22 win at Twickenham on yesterday.
There were more than 80 minutes on the clock when replacement fly-half Smith landed the winning kick as England ended a run of four straight defeats by Ireland.
Italy won their first Six Nations home match in 11 years yesterday, beating Scotland 31-29 and handing Ireland the chance to win the championship with a match to spare.
Yesterday’s win could be crucial for the battle to avoid a ninth straight wooden spoon as Wales, who are now in last place, face France in Cardiff today. Italy also travel to Wales, where they last won a Six Nations match two years ago, in their final match next weekend.
Gregor Townsend’s Scotland, meanwhile, now have a fight on their hands to finish second in the Six Nations for the first time.
Scotland have not finished higher than third since winning the last Five Nations in 1999 and their hopes of ending this year’s edition in the top two have been damaged as both England and France can overtake them this weekend.