Four Arsenal players who’s contract expires at the end of the season
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a heartwarming gesture towards Kai Havertz after Saturday’s last-gasp 1-0 victory against Brentford. Havertz came off the bench to net a late winner at the Gtech Community Stadium, soothing his difficult start to the season and sending the Gunners top of the Premier League.
Arsenal were below par in west London after Manchester City and Liverpool’s 1-1 draw earlier in the day left the league summit at their mercy.
Leandro Trossard saw a first-half opener ruled out by VAR for offside, while Declan Rice had to bail the visitors out with a goalline clearance after a mistake from a low-confidence Aaron Ramsdale.
Oleksandr Zinchenko prevented substitute Neal Maupay from breaking the deadlock with a sensational block of his own in the second half.
But Havertz did. He replaced Gabriel Martinelli on 79 minutes and met a pinpoint inswinging Bukayo Saka cross to head past Mark Flekken on the stroke of stoppage time.
The 24-year-old forward had scored just once in his first 19 Arsenal appearances since a surprise £65million move from Chelsea in the summer, sparking mass criticism and mockery.
He was also a subject of attention during the international break when Germany manager Julian Naglesmann used him as a left-back.
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But Arteta, understandably jubilant after full-time, made sure to give Havertz the limelight he deserved after rescuing three points against a resilient Brentford side.
The Arsenal boss got Havertz in a headlock and dragged him towards the loud away section, serenading him with his chant to the tune of Shakira’s Waka Waka.
He pushed the Gunners No 29 towards the delighted supporters, and he wore a gleaming smile at the end of a successful night for the visitors.
Arsenal have won their last three games in all competitions and host RC Lens at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, knowing a win would secure their spot in the round of 16.
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Havertz will hope to regain his start spot against the Ligue 1 side and build on the momentum from his late heroics at Brentford.
Arsenal then start off their December fixture schedule with a favourable Premier League double header against Wolves on home turf before a local trip to Luton Town.
It’s a tough conclusion to 2023 for Arteta and co, though, with games against Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Brighton and Hove Albion, Liverpool, West Ham United and Fulham before the new year.
Like last season, Arsenal find themselves top of the tree in the Premier League. They now have the task of avoiding heartbreak again by fending off Manchester City, Liverpool and rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
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