Arsenal's late winner at Brentford on Saturday was no fluke as Kai Havertz detailed the Gunners' plan to pounce on their expertly-organised hosts.
The Bees looked good value for a point out of a stalemate in west London, playing most of the match without the ball but largely restricting Arsenal's attempts on goal, until substitute Havertz popped up at the far-post with an 89th-minute header.
Bukayo Saka's superb cross was guided in by the German for his best moment in an Arsenal shirt yet after a £65million summer transfer that has so far largely not gone to plan.
"Feels amazing, [I've] been working hard for these moments," Havertz told TNT Sports after the final whistle.
"Today I got it paid back and I'm just happy to help the team with that.
Kai Havertz scores a 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 goal that may take Arsenal top of the Premier League 💥 pic.twitter.com/3oAP7L72ki
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 25, 2023
"It was a brilliant goal, a brilliant pass as well. We trained this routine quite a lot, Bukayo and [Gabriel Martinelli] love to play this ball so it's a good goal.
"Football is always hard work and nothing comes from itself, you have to work and keep belief. It was tough for me the last couple of months, I tried to put my ego aside as the team is the most important thing.
"I've been so thankful for the fans as well, it's hard when the new signing comes for a lot of money and they think it comes easy and fast, I'm thankful to them for supporting me."
Mikel Arteta heaped praise on his super-sub after the win , which sent Arsenal top of the Premier League table.
"Delighted," he said. "You just have to see the reaction from everybody - how much they love him and how much he brings to the team.
"And it's what he needs to do. We believed he could change the game, the way they were defending.
"It was a perfect timing, perfect execution and he won the game for us."
