Kai Havertz scored a late winner against Brentford to catapult Arsenal top of the Premier League – and spare Aaron Ramsdale his blushes. 

Declan Rice had headed the Gunners in front after 19 minutes but on the stroke of half-time, Ramsdale suffered a calamity.

The goalkeeper dithered on the ball and was closed down by Yoane Wissa, whose intervention saw the ball end up in Arsenal’s goal on the stroke of half-time. 

Here are Riath Al-Samarrai’s ratings from the game.  

Kai Havertz scored an emphatic winner to send Arsenal to the top of the Premier League

This was not luxury performance from Arsenal but they did show determination and desire

Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale – 6.5

After effectively gifting Yoane Wissa a goal with a lapse of concentration, Ramsdale faced a mental test. And rose to it. Made some pivotal saves in the second half, including from a stunning Ivan Toney long shot, to prove his mettle. 

Ben White – 7.5

Arsenal look so good with pure full-backs. White was a menace up the wing, providing the crosses for Rice and Havertz’s goals.

William Saliba – 6 

Generally coped well in the physical cut and thrust with Toney. 

Gabriel – 6

Made the backpass that led to Wissa’s goal, but there was little wrong with it. A quiet afternoon. Brentford had a few chances so Arsenal could have defender better, but it was a solid enough evening. 

Aaron Ramsdale had the world on his shoulders after conceding from a calamitious error, but made up for it with vital saves in the second half

Ben White was critical to Arsenal’s victory, setting up both of those goals with fine crosses

Jakub Kiwior – 6 

Kiwior is making the left-back position his own and has retained the spot even with Oleksandr Zinchenko coming back into the fold. Another reliable afternoon. 

Martin Odegaard – 7

Constantly looking to make things happen. Teed up White nicely before he found Havertz for the winner. 

Jorginho – 7 

A metronomic pulse of this Arsenal side. As the fulcrum of the midfield, he is the anchor that allows the creativity to happen ahead of him – and chips in with his own quality as well. Another good performance. 

Declan Rice – 7.5

Since switching to the left of the midfield, Rice has been even more of a revelation. He now has six goals to his name this season after scoring the opener. He can do everything. 

Martin Odegaard submitted another quality performance in the midfield despite the game being very physical

Bukayo Saka – 7

Once again influential without being on the scoresheet or bagging an assist. Linked up well with White ahead of the first goal with a nice exchange of passes. 

Kai Havertz – 7.5

Scored the winner to send an exclamation mark spinning over north London. Havertz has now scored in four consecutive games. There’s making people eat their words and then there’s making people devour them. Critical to Arsenal’s success and excelling as a false nine. 

Leandro Trossard – 6

Outshone by his peers and taken off for Reiss Nelson after 80 minutes. Not bad but little to write home about. 

Declan Rice is playing superbly on the left of the midfield and bagegd his sixth goal of the season

Substitutes

Gabriel Jesus (Jorginho 70) 

Oleksandr Zinchenko (Kiwior 80)

Reiss Nelson (Trossard 90) 

Thomas Partey (Odegaard 90)

Not used: Hein, Cedric, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nketiah

Manager: Mikel Arteta – 6.5

He didn’t mastermind a glamour show like some of their recent storming victories but his team showed the grit required to battle through following Ramsdale’s setback. As valid a win as any. 

Referee Robert Jones should have given Kai Havertz a second yellow after his second-half dive in the box

Referee: Robert Jones – 5

Should arguably have given Kai Havertz a second yellow for diving after receiving no contact from Nathan Collins in the box in the second half. 

Brentford

Brentford (3-5-2): Flekken 6.5; Jorgensen 6, Ajer 6.5, Collins 7; Roerslev 5.5, Onyeka 6 (Yarmoliuk 78), Norgaard 6 (Jensen 34, 6.5), Janelt 6, Lewis-Potter 6; Toney 6, Wissa 7 (Maupay 78).

Subs not used: Strakosha, Ghoddos, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Kim, Arthur

Booked: Onyeka, Zanka, Jorgensen

Manager: Thomas Frank 6.5