Arsenal went top of the Premier League with a late 2-1 win at home to Brentford on Saturday.
The Gunners secured an eighth-successive league win to move into first place but they were made to work for the three points at the Emirates Stadium.
The Bees’ goal was rather fortuitous but Thomas Frank’s side battled well and only just about lost a point at the very last.
How the game unfolded
Arsenal nearly scored directly from a corner in the game’s opening exchanges. Declan Rice’s wicked delivery flew beyond Jakub Kiwior and Kai Havertz towards the back post, where a touch off the knee of Ivan Toney saved Brentford.
Toney had the Bees’ first real chance down the other end when he rose high to meet a corner, but his effort was well held by Aaron Ramsdale. The England goalkeeper – in for the ineligible David Raya – then set Leandro Trossard racing away with a long throw, but he was caught in the nick of time by Mads Roerslev before he could get a shot out of his feet.
With 19 minutes on the clock, Arsenal went in front. Just after the hosts had appeals for a penalty for a shove on Martin Odegaard waved away, Ben White delivered a cross from the right and picked out Rice, who got above Roerslev and headed beyond Mark Flekken.
Arsenal nearly had the ball in the net again when a clever pass between the Brentford backline from Jorginho found Havertz, who somehow bounced his shot wide. The offside flag was raised but replays suggested that decision would have been reversed by VAR if the move ended in a goal.
On the stroke of half-time, Brentford found an equaliser in incredible fashion. Ramsdale took too long dallying on the ball and Yoane Wissa was able to steam in and block his clearance, with the ball bouncing back into the net.
Ramsdale went some way to redeeming himself when he threw up a hand to claw away a speculative half-volley from 35 yards by Ivan Toney just after the break.
Arsenal went close to going ahead again when Gabriel Magalhaes got his head on another corner, only for Vitaly Janelt to clear his corner off the line.
The hosts were furious they weren’t awarded penalties when Roerslev tugged back Leandro Trossard and Havertz fell meekly under a challenge from Nathan Collins as Brentford fended for their lives.
Ramsdale was again called into action when Kristoffer Ajer’s cross met Collins, and the Arsenal goalkeeper tipped the header over the bar.
Rice struck the woodwork with a graceful effort from distance, rattling Flecken’s crossbar after Brentford were only able to clear the first delivery from a corner.
With just under five minutes remaining, the Brentford resistence was broken. Another floated cross from White was this time met by Havertz, whose header was too hot for Flekken to handle and Arsenal secured the points.