LONDON (AP) — Arsenal finally wore down Brighton’s resistance despite a multitude of wasted chances to secure a 2-0 win on Sunday that sent the Gunners temporarily at least to the top of the Premier League table on Sunday.
Kai Havertz only made the game safe in the 87th by finishing off a quick counterattack to double Arsenal’s lead with a rare clinical finish on an afternoon when the hosts were guilty of widespread profligacy.
Havertz’s goal came from Arsenal’s 25th shot of the game — compared to just two for Brighton — and eighth on target although all but one of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s previous saves had been fairly routine.
Arsenal had 15 shots to zero for Brighton in the first half alone but the breakthrough didn’t come until the 53rd. Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke attempted to head clear a corner from Saka but the ball only found Gabriel Jesus, who was on hand to head it back into an empty net.
That goal forced Brighton to become more ambitious and Jack Hinshelwood finally forced a save from David Raya in the 64th, but it was a weak header straight at the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Arsenal kept coming close at the other end and Lewis Dunk had to clear off the line after another corner in the 68th, while Martin Odegaard drew the only quality save from Verbruggen when he drove into the area and unleashed a fierce shot that needed a one-handed stop.
Havertz headed high from six yards out after the ensuing corner, while Brighton came closest to an equalizer in the 83rd when Pascal Gross met a cross from Kaoru Mitoma but sent his shot just wide of the near post.
Just as it looked like Arsenal might be made to pay for all those misses, substitute Eddie Nketiah released Havertz on a counter and the Germany forward beat Verbruggen with a left-foot shot inside the far post.
The win lifts Arsenal two points ahead of Liverpool ahead of its match against Manchester United later Sunday. It also puts the Gunners five points ahead of Manchester City after the defending champion was held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace on Saturday. Aston Villa is one point behind Arsenal.
Aston Villa 2, Brentford 1
In Brentford, Ollie Watkins scored the winner and upset fans at his former club with his goal celebrations as Aston Villa beat the hosts 2-1 to provisionally move second in the Premier League.
Villa is one point behind leader Arsenal and a point above third-place Liverpool, which hosts Manchester United later Sunday.
Late goals from Alex Moreno and Watkins secured a dramatic late victory for Unai Emery’s high-flying Villa at Brentford after Bees defender Ben Mee had been sent off 20 minutes from time.
Keane Lewis-Potter had opened the scoring for the hosts at Gtech Community Stadium but the game turned on its head after Mee was dismissed for flying into Leon Bailey in the 71st minute — referee David Coote upgrading to a red card after seeing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Moreno equalized in the 77th minute with Watkins completing the turnaround eight minutes later, before Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara was also shown a red card deep into stoppage time for violent conduct.
Watkins’ winner came after Jacob Ramsey’s corner got a fortunate flick-on and former Brentford striker Watkins headed home before celebrating in front of his old fans.
The celebration caused an on-field melee, with the referee brandishing yellow cards to Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos before Kamara was dismissed following a scuffle with Yehor Yarmoliuk.
West Ham 3, Wolves 0
In London, Mohammed Kudus scored two goals as West Ham beat Wolves 3-0.
Kudus struck twice in 10 first-half minutes at London Stadium and Jarrod Bowen rounded off the win after the break.
The victory provisionally moved West Ham up to seventh in the table, above Manchester United, who were playing Liverpool in the day’s later kick off.
Kudus had scored against Freiburg on Thursday as David Moyes’ team topped its Europa League group.
He fired West Ham ahead in the 22nd minute after quick break away, shooting with his left foot from around 25 yards (meters) after Lucas Paqueta’s pass. He doubled the home team’s lead 10 minutes later, this time with his right foot after another assist from Paqueta.
Pablo Sarabia thought he had cut West Ham’s lead in the 58th, but his goal was ruled out for a marginal offside by VAR.
Paqueta completed a hat trick of assists as Bowen made it 3-0 in the 74th by finishing in the corner for his 10th goal of the season.
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