Arsenal join exclusive Premier League club with Brentford victory
The Gunners welcomed the Bees to the Emirates in the knowledge that they would rise to the top of the table with all three points before Liverpool and Manchester City squared off in Sunday's mouthwatering showpiece.
Mikel Arteta's men also had a slice of vengeance on their minds, having been the victims of an incorrectly allowed equaliser in last year's 1-1 draw with Brentford, whom they had already beaten 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League and EFL Cup this season.
On the back of scoring 31 goals in their opening seven Premier League games of 2024, Arsenal began their bid for another emphatic success in perfect fashion, as Declan Rice headed home from Ben White's delivery for his sixth top-flight strike of the season.
Fans began to vacate their seats as the interval approached, but deep into first-half injury time, Aaron Ramsdale — starting over the ineligible David Raya — took too long to clear the ball and was charged down by Yoane Wissa, whose endeavours were rewarded with a Brentford leveller.
Arsenal's efforts to regain their slender lead in the second half were often unfruitful, and Brentford fashioned two promising openings of their own, but Ramsdale made amends for his first-half mistake with two top saves to deny Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins.
However, with 86 minutes on the board, another pinpoint White delivery was on the money for Kai Havertz, whose header flew into the roof of the net off of Mark Flekken's palm to send Arsenal to the summit.
As well as reclaiming their Premier League perch, the Gunners' three-point haul means that they are only the fourth
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