Arsenal were sent top of the Premier League courtesy of a late winner by Kai Havertz at Brentford on Saturday.
Liverpool's lunchtime draw at Manchester City earlier on Saturday opened the door for the Gunners, who needed to win at Brentford in the early evening kick-off to grab top spot.
However a chess match of a football game, punctured by pockets of excitement, looked to be heading for stalemate as Arsenal dominated the ball in the face of a nine-man Brentford defensive wall.
Leandro Trossard popped up to head home a rebound after Gabriel Jesus' header was parried upwards by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, only for VAR to chalk his effort off for an offside by the finest of margins.
But there was no doubting Havertz's late winner from a delicious Bukayo Saka cross that saw Arsenal once again drag themselves over the line in a tough game.
Kai Havertz scores a 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 goal that may take Arsenal top of the Premier League 💥 pic.twitter.com/3oAP7L72ki
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 25, 2023
It was the Bees who could have struck first when Aaron Ramsdale, involved due to loanee David Raya's ineligibility against his parent club, gave the ball away from a goal kick and had Declan Rice to thank for blocking Bryan Mbeumo's shot off the line before Yoane Wissa shot wide.
Arsenal soon regained control of proceedings but rarely threatened Flekken in the hosts' goal.
On 42 minutes, Trossard saw an opening goal disallowed for offside after patient build-up play led to a cute dink into the box for Jesus to latch onto. The Brazilian's header rebounded into the path of Trossard to bundle over the line, but VAR confirmed he was an inch ahead of his teammate as the initial shot came in.
The second half continued at much the same pace, prompting Arteta to throw Eddie Nketiah on for Jesus not long after showing his frustration at a superb Gabriel Martinelli cross to the far-post going unmet as Arsenal's attackers failed to gamble on a deep run.
Brentford then saw their second golden chance denied as Oleksandr Zinchenko hacked a Neal Maupay header off the line with ten minutes remaining, before the Bees substitute placed an arguably easier effort wide moments later.
Havertz was sent on for Martinelli next and proved to be the hero with an 89th-minute header.
