Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has called his decisive goal against Brentford a “dream” moment, as the Gunners reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League.
The German forward, who joined from Chelsea in the summer, had a slow start to the season, but he has now scored four goals in four league games. Brentford had equalized through Yoane Wissa after Declan Rice gave Arsenal the lead, but Havertz scored in the 86th minute to seal a 2-1 win, sparking wild celebrations at the Emirates Stadium.
The 23-year-old was serenaded by the home fans at full-time and admitted afterwards that he had dreamed of moments like this as a child. “As a kid, I think you dream that you’re going to have moments like this in your career and Saturday I had something like this,” he said.
“The supporters made it very special to me and I’m very thankful to have this moment. Thank you to all of them.
“You always hope for that (connection with fans). I know maybe it wasn’t from the beginning but I always try to work hard and just not drop my confidence.
“I just give my best every game and I did it so I’m happy now that I’ve had some of those moments now. I’m very delighted, it was a big game for us. To play in these games and win it at the end is always very nice and it was a great feeling.”
Havertz scored a contentious late goal, as he might have been shown a red card earlier in the game. He had already received a yellow card for elbowing Ajer, and then he appeared to dive to try to get a penalty in the second half.
“Right now, I don’t think momentum is with us,” Vitaly Janelt told Brentford’s official website. “Everyone expected that Arsenal would win by three, four, five today because of their last results, but everyone knows how difficult it is to play against us either at home or away.
“They didn’t create many chances and, for me, it was a clear yellow and then red to Havertz, it was a clear dive for me. Then he scores the winner, but that’s football.