by Arsenal’s score of their late winner was like hearing that old friends had been officially pardoned. The tendency is to congratulate him, but what you’re really wondering is how on earth he got himself into the position he needed.
In the end, because they won, this was a story of resilience and Aaron Ramsdale at least deserves credit out of the way, after equalizing for Brentford, he made two excellent saves in the second half, one from Ivan Toney and one from Nathan. Collins. The manner in which Arsenal fared more generally and found the victory that took them to the top of the table will also be praised, but this is not a game that would raise the suspicion that their volatility could undermine their title challenge. When things are good, Arsenal are very good, but when they are bad, maybe they are not as good as they want to be.
Related: Kai Havertz headed in a late winner as Arsenal went top with victory over Brentford
The accusation that Arsenal lost the title race last season did not seem entirely fair: Manchester City have better resources. But at the same time, the memories of those games at Liverpool and West Ham live on when Arsenal seemed to be in control of the game only after they fought back. Reasons for isolation are never simple, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable to draw a line on the wins against West Ham and Fulham between Christmas and New Year this season. What was remarkable in both was how Arsenal, after starting reasonably well, lost their way and were unable to impose themselves on their opponents.
But after seven straight league wins since their trip to Dubai in January, with 31 goals scored and three conceded, confidence was high and Arsenal were on a euphoric wave. In the fog they had at the beginning, they are very difficult to oppose: 1-0 up and cruising, the only half-thought of the truth that their dominant first half did not put the game out of sight.
And then, the test. It is debatable whether David Raya is an upgrade over Ramsdale. Competition for places is perhaps more important than the sense of security that former goalkeepers consider essential. But what Raya has done on loan from Brentford is increase the focus on the position. Raya’s form may have mitigated that scrutiny to some extent but, unable to face his parent club, his absence turned the spotlight back on Ramsdale, who was making his first appearance since winning Liverpool in the FA Cup in January.
So when he curled a clearance into Yoann Wissa to give Brentford an incredible equalizer – last week the Congolese PD forward scored an overhead kick, as he put it, “for those who love football”; this week may have been his target for those who love the dialogue – he has undoubtedly reopened the whole debate. Would he make the mistake if he played regularly? Who knows? Choose your hypothesis as needed to fit whatever argument you are trying to make. In truth, however, at least as significant as Ramsdale’s hesitation was Arsenal’s general loss of intensity after delaying the treatment of Kristoffer Ajer, as if they believed the half was already over.
A direct victory was transformed into a potential trauma. This could easily have been West Ham last season. How many times have we seen this? Arsenal, desperately looking for a goal, became more ragged as the Emirates crowd became more furious. The Reiss Nelson Protocol was enacted in vain as Bournemouth’s memories of last season fade. The opposition destroying and destroying. Frantic appeals for penalties and cards. Bullets hit a guarded body and one pings out at an angle. Frustration slowly too much hope. Only this time there was a twist: another cross from Ben White, who set up the opener, and Kai Havertz’s winner.
How to evaluate a game like that? Praise Arsenal for getting the job done? Or criticize them for abandoning such a position of authority?
But then that’s how it was last season. When Arsenal beat Aston Villa and Bournemouth with late goals it was shown as evidence of their character, almost of some kind of destiny – just like the emotional defeat of Liverpool this season – when it was evidence of the fallibility revealed later . . You can only go to the well so often; the dramatic late goals eventually run out.
Arsenal have not had to rely on them recently. This may be the kind of goal that reinforces the dream, the understanding in question, but equally the lack of composure after surrendering, the way they let themselves be preyed upon, is a concern. Three critical points or a worrying sign of a tendency to panic under pressure? That could depend on whether they go on to win the league. How to evaluate this game? It’s probably too early to tell.
