Kai Havertz may have scored the winning goal in a Champions League final but his late header to seal victory over Brentford and send Arsenal top of the Premier League was also a “dream” moment for the forward.
With title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City facing off 24 hours later, any victory for Arsenal would have taken them to the summit for the first time in 2024.
It looked like they were on course to miss out after returning goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale gifted a goal to Yoane Wissa to cancel out a brilliant Declan Rice header, only for Havertz to convert with four minutes remaining and secure a 2-1 victory.
After a slow start following his summer move from Chelsea, where he netted the only goal of the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, Havertz now has four in four league games and was serenaded by the home fans at full-time.
“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’s late goal was controversial as there was a chance he could have been sent off earlier in the game.
After being cautioned for catching Kristoffer Ajer with an elbow, the Germany forward seemingly dived in an attempt to win a second-half penalty.
Arsenal are very lucky still to have 11!
Havertz, who has already been booked, throws himself to the ground in the box but isn't shown a second yellow 😤
🔴 1-1 🐝#ARSBRE | #BrentfordFC
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) March 9, 2024
“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.”