Havertz saves day for Arsenal
Aaron Ramsdale looked to the sky and was soon consoled and encouraged by teammates.
Would a dreadful mistake by Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper end its long winning run and stop the team from climbing to the top of the Premier League? Kai Havertz ensured it wouldn’t.
With an 86th-minute goal, Havertz secured a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday that lifted Arsenal above Liverpool and Manchester City into first place — for one day, at least.
When Havertz’s header struck the net, the most relieved person in Emirates Stadium was Ramsdale, who was only playing because David Raya, Arsenal’s No. 1 goalkeeper, was ineligible on loan from Brentford.
It was his first league appearance since the reverse fixture hosted by Brentford in November — when Havertz also scored a late winner — so perhaps rustiness was to blame for Ramsdale dallying on the ball following a back pass, and his clearance getting run down by Yoane Wissa and ricocheting into the net.
It made the score 1-1 deep into first-half stoppage time. As he walked off the field at halftime, some Arsenal substitutes and members of the backroom staff fistbumped him and patted him on the back.
The goalkeeper responded with two brilliant saves in the second half, the first a spectacular dive backward to claw away Ivan Toney’s outrageous long-range attempt. Still, Ramsdale needed a goal at the other end.
Havertz scored for the fourth straight game, after escaping a yellow card for what seemed a clear dive.
The German forward was a surprise signing by Arsenal in the offseason for a reported $82 million (U.S.) despite an unconvincing spell at Chelsea. He is beginning to prove his worth.
Arsenal won for the eighth straight game and is a point clear of Liverpool and two ahead of City. They meet at Anfield on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Manchester United teen Alejandro Garnacho won two penalties in a 2-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford took the penalty kicks and made no mistake. Before Saturday, no United player had ever earned a pair of spot kicks in the same Premier League game.