Well, that's what prospective champions do, isn't it? Not a season goes by without the team that ends up on top walking away with three points from a game or two where they haven't played particularly well, have had to ride their luck, and have notched a late winner at a time when everybody is resigned to a single point. And that's precisely what Arsenal did at Brentford on Saturday evening.
Make no mistake; for all that Brentford have been missing their best player all season, and have a few injuries to boot (hasn't every side?), they're an extremely difficult side to beat at their own ground. This was only their third home loss in a year, and two of those three have been inflicted by Arsenal. So there's no getting away from this being a decent result.
Whilst this was a bit of a turgid affair for the neutral, there was no shortage of interest for Arsenal supporters. Several lines of intrigue, in fact. And we'll start with the starting line-up.
With no less than 10 matches facing the team between last weekend and December 31st (36 days), and a number of long-term injuries within the squad, this is going to be a test of Arteta's ingenuity. The biggest tests, outside of this one, are likely to be Villa away and - especially - Liverpool away just before Christmas. So perhaps he needs to work his way around those. But with Timber, Partey and Smith Rowe all out until at least the New Year, and Vieira suspended domestically, there's plenty of juggling to be done.
Arteta must have agonised over whether to start Jesus - just back from injury and also from Brazil (along with the other Gabriels, of course) - or let him sit on the bench until required. But he went with him. Also, interestingly, with a really attacking midfield/forward line-up that put pretty much all the defensive onus on the Atlas-like shoulders of Declan Rice. No Havertz (fresh from his run outs on the left side of the Germany defence!), but this meant that Trossard could maintain his place. This meant no place for Jorginho, whilst Tomiyasu kept his spot at right-back over Ben White, who is possibly still a bit short of fitness following his illness.
The most interesting focus was, however, Aaron Ramsdale; back in goal as David Raya was ineligible against his parent club. Back in goal, and under both scrutiny and pressure.
I'd been wondering (as you may have read over the past few weeks) quite how much of an upgrade Raya is on Ramsdale, but - and this is even leaving aside the two howlers committed by the latter in the first half - the difference was plain to see. For all that Ramsdale's confidence has clearly been affected by the situation, one could see that the quality of distribution of the two players is like 'chalk and cheese'. Yes, it was probably sensible - for the sake of the entire team - for Ramsdale to be advised to go long continually following his first mistake. But that's been his default move for a couple of years now; whereas Raya - for all that he gives the supporters palpitations at times - seems more controlled and far more able to play any type of pass.
Two massive howlers from Ramsdale, as we saw; and both (particularly the first one; such incredibly swift thinking from Declan Rice by the way) leaving him very fotunate not to concede. Both borne of nerves and a desperate desire to impress. The first with the ball at his feet, and the second - under zero pressure - with ball in hand. Not a good look.
And for all that his second half was a vast improvement on his first, this is surely the end of the debate. Normally, Ramsdale would thrive and feed off of home supporters' chants of 'You're just a sh*t David Raya!' and 'England's England's Number 4!.' But it was clear that he didn't have it in him to respond to that as he would have done last year. He'd done little wrong, frankly, to lose his place, and I truly feel sorry for him; but a fresh challenge - although I hope that he'll hang around until the summer - appears to be in order. I wouldn't expect Arteta to stand in his way, anyway.
Look, we all love Aaron Ramsdale, for the vibes and energy - as well as some of the outstanding work that he did last season - that he's brought to the team. But it's clear that he's failed this test. There have been times when I've thought that Arsenal Football Club are maybe too big for Raya to handle, and he has also made mistakes, but I'd assume that this will be now a boost to the Spaniard's confidence. He knows that he's got the position nailed down now.
Aside from those two self-inflicted opportunities for Brentford, the home side had nothing to really get excited about beyond a late opportunity that saw a fantastic goal line clearance from Zinchenko. But that was really all they had to show for their efforts. If any side was going to win the game, it was definitely going to be Arsenal.
Indeed, Arsenal had had the ball in the net late in the first half; Trossard with another brave header after Jesus's effort was ruled out for offside. 'Offside' was my reaction as I watched it live, but on replay I honestly thought that he was on. But the lines were drawn, and that was that. Far from me to suggest that the lines were drawn at the wrong time, and that there's a conspiracy against Arsenal. Heaven forbid! But the original TNT Sports freeze frame gave a different and more favourable look to the situation before the dreaded lines appeared.
In truth, nobody was having a particularly noteworthy game in luminous yellow. Rice put in his standard 8/10 - we're used to it by now - and the Saliba/Gabriel partnership was as solid as could be. Neither of them put too many feet wrong, and if they do the other one usually bails him out. What a pairing!
And as for this; what a photograph!
Further forward, it was hard work. Like most sides, Brentford put up a 'low block' and made life difficult for Arsenal. Saying that, I was once more disappointed at the speed that Arsenal circulated the ball. It wasn't until the final 10 minutes or so, as everyone was tiring, that Arsenal speeded things up - and from there the goal came.
But before then came the substitutions. This is an area in which we've seen great improvement from Arteta this season; something to do with the size of the squad, I'm sure, but nonetheless it's becoming a far more effective weapon. The pattern of play was crying out for more of a target man, and Arteta spotted this, whipped a tiring Jesus off and introduced Nketiah, which made an immediate difference. Maybe I'm imagining it, but do Jesus's forays towards each wing inadvertently close up space for Saka and Martinelli? Anyway, Nketiah through the middle concentrated Brentford minds differently.
But the key move was the introduction of Havertz. He was immediately involved, progressing the ball in the left 8 channel and getting into the box late. And finally we saw the breakthrough we'd been craving, as with increased tempo Rice switched the ball from left to right to Odegaard, he flicked the ball out to Saka and for once - almost for the first time - Starboy had a little bit of space in which to operate. A shimmy inside, and the sight of a big overload at the far post. An exquisite curling cross, and Havertz notched his first Arsenal goal from open play with a decisive header. Cue delirium in the ranks; on the field, on the bench, and in the crowd as the Away Boyz' version of Shakira's 'This Time For Africa' was heard once more: 'Sixty million down the drain? Kai Havertz's scored again!' I believe they call it an 'earworm'; and I haven't stopped singing it since then. We've got the best and most imaginative away supporters in the land; there is no doubt about that.
And that was that. Ramsdale had somehow notched up another clean sheet, and Declan Rice yet another Player of the Match award. And with City and Liverpool having drawn their match-up earlier in the day, Arsenal are 'back where we belong'. Without reaching anything like the heights of last season, let's face it. Which bodes well as we move forward.
Great to see the players rallying around the immensely likeable Ramsdale, by the way.
There's a lot being said about Arsenal's incredible solidity this season - just 10 league goals conceded in 13 matches - but I'm looking forward to what is my ideal central midfield. And I'm willing to wait for it, because we're most likely to see it towards the end of the season. And it's this: Partey, Rice, Odegaard. For me, the different type of ball progression and swifter, vertical passing that an on-song Partey can offer could make all the difference for Arsenal. Theoretically, he'll only be fit to jet off to AFCON, but we ought to see him back and fully match-fit from February onwards. Judicious use of the Ghanaian on the run-in will be, for me, the X Factor that could take Arsenal over the line in front. What do you think?
Anyway, for the moment we move on serenely. Lens at home, a slightly awkward but eminently winnable game with Wolves at the weekend, and then to Kenilworth Road. Three tidy wins, please.
Just before I go, a quick mention of other matters. Firstly, what a goal that was from Garnacho on Sunday! Up there with the very best overhead kick goals I've ever seen. And secondly, I want to draw your attention to Tottenham... if you can find them in the table, that is… Three defeats in a row to follow their 10-game unbeaten start. Spursy... and such fun. It's Manchester City away for them next up - oh my!
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