ARSENAL rose to the top of the English Premier League table tonight after a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium over Brentford, who had Frank Onyeka in their starting line-up.
Kai Havertz struck late to earn the Gunners the victory after Democratic Republic of Congo striker Yoane Wissa had cancelled out Declan Rice’s opener.
Arsenal were dominant from the kick-off and got their reward when Rice ghosted into the Brentford box to head home from Ben White’s brilliant delivery.
Despite having the vast majority of the ball, Arsenal did not go into the break in the lead, as Brentford pegged them back just before half-time.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who was handed a rare start because on-loan David Raya was ineligible to play against his parent club, dallied on the ball and Wissa blocked his attempted kick into the net in first-half stoppage time.
Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder Onyeka was his usual busy self despite an early yellow card but he was substituted off in the 78th minute.
Brentford were frustrating Arsenal and looking like the first side to stop Mikel Arteta’s side from winning in the Premier League in 2024 until Havertz struck.
The former Chelsea forward found space in the Brentford box to nod in another White cross with just four minutes left on the clock.
Havertz has now scored in four consecutive Premier League games for the very first time in his career as Arsenal overtook both Manchester City and Liverpool to go to the top of the standings.
The Gunners are first with 64 points, one ahead of Liverpool and two clear of City.
Both Liverpool and City clash tomorrow at Anfield in a top-of-the-table clash.
With tonight’s victory, Arsenal became only the fourth side to win each of their first eight Premier League games of a calendar year, according to Opta statistics.
Incidentally, the previous three all went on to win the title that year (Manchester United in 2009, Liverpool in 2020 and Manchester City in 2021).
