Arsenal go top with 2-1 win over Brentford, Man United beat Everton

AFP

Kai Havertz headed an 86th-minute winner to take his side top of the Premier League with a 2-1 home victory over Brentford on Saturday, while Manchester United kept top-four hopes alive with a 2-0 win against Everton.

Following their victory Arsenal sit top of the Premier League on 64 points after 28 games, although either Liverpool or Manchester City can claim first place with a win in Sunday's blockbuster clash at Anfield. Second-placed Liverpool have 63 points, while City are third on 62.

Elsewhere in Saturday's fixtures Luton Town salvaged a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace with a late goal to boost their survival bid, Bournemouth came from two down to deny Sheffield United their fourth league win this season with a 2-2 draw and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Fulham 2-1.

Arsenal recorded an eighth league victory in a row and Havertz scored for the fourth consecutive game to make up for a calamitous error by stand-in goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Declan Rice's glancing header from a Ben White cross gave Arsenal the lead after 19 minutes before Yoane Wissa levelled just before halftime, with his sliding challenge sending Ramsdale's attempted clearance into the net.

"These points were so important for us and you could see that in the second half," said Havertz. "We didn't play our best in the first half but it's even better to win it this way.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford fired in first-half penalties -- both created by sloppy Everton tackles on Alejandro Garnacho.

Erik ten Hag's team remain sixth but with 47 points they crept closer to fourth-placed Aston Villa, who are on 55 with a game in hand at home to Tottenham Hotspur in fifth on Sunday.

United were coming off successive league losses, to Fulham and Manchester City, that ended an unbeaten run of four wins.

"It was important. We had one bad result against Fulham in this calendar year," Ten Hag said. "We had to put this right and keep the pressure on the teams above us.

"There are many games to play. Now we are back. We will keep pressure on them and see what happens."

Sean Dyche's Everton -- winless in 11 straight league games -- are 16th on 25 points, four points above the drop zone.
 

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