Winning goal shortly before the end
Match winner Havertz makes Klopp’s giant duel even hotter
March 9, 2024, 9:10 p.m
English football is experiencing an electrifying title race: Before the giant duel between Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC and Champions League winners Manchester City, Arsenal FC is once again increasing the pressure on the two top teams. DFB star Kai Havertz becomes the match winner late on.
Arsenal FC has taken over the top of the table in the English Premier League thanks to match winner Kai Havertz. After a late goal from the national player (86th), the Londoners defeated FC Brentford 2-1 (1-1) and took first place at least until Sunday with their eighth league win in a row with 64 points. If there is no winner in the hotly anticipated top game between Liverpool FC (63) and defending champions Manchester City (62), Arsenal will remain ahead.
With Havertz in the starting line-up, everything initially went according to plan for the hosts. Declan Rice (19th) took the lead. However, in stoppage time in the first half, Yoane Wissa (45th + 4) equalized. After the change, Arsenal pushed for victory, Havertz finally secured the three points with a header – and thus increased the pressure on previous league leaders Liverpool and pursuers Manchester. “The rivalry between Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola has not only shaped English football, it has also changed it,” wrote the BBC before the big game (4.45 p.m./Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de). The summit meeting of the first against the second at Anfield Road will be “a fitting final chapter” in the eternal saga between Pep and Klopp. Arsenal, however, is in a position to play spoilsport.
“Want to make it interesting”
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta had already said before the game against Brentford that on Sunday he would “enjoy a great football match between two of the best teams in Europe in the last decade and let’s see what comes of it, but the focus is on us and Brentford.” Arteta went on to say he understands why fans see this season as the best title race in Premier League history. “I imagine it’s very interesting for a lot of people and we want to make it very interesting, especially for us, so we have to keep at it,” he admitted. And his Arsenal FC delivered.
Arsenal will face FC Porto in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday. The Portuguese won the first leg 1-0. Arsenal FC have to travel to Manchester City for their next league game. And then continues to be part of the dramatic title race in the Premier League.