KAI Havertz sent Arsenal to the top of the Premier League as the German’s last-gasp goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brentford on Saturday.
Havertz was a Champions League final hero for Chelsea in 2021, but he has endured a torrid time since crossing London to join Arsenal in the close-season.
The 24-year-old midfielder finally gave a glimpse of why Mikel Arteta splashed out £65 million ($80 million) to sign him when he headed home in the closing minutes.
Havertz’s second goal for Arsenal was his first in his last 10 appearances, moving his team one point clear of second-placed Manchester City, who were held to a 1-1 draw by third-placed Liverpool earlier in the day.
Elsewhere, Alexander-Arnold’s late equaliser rescued Liverpool in their 1-1 draw at title rivals Manchester City after Erling Haaland bagged his 50th Premier League goal.
Alexander-Arnold struck 10 minutes from the end of a tense summit meeting at the Etihad Stadium after Haaland’s landmark strike looked like extending City’s record home-winning run.
Leaders City had won their previous 23 games on home turf in all competitions, but second-placed Liverpool’s escape act means third-placed Arsenal will go top if they win at Brentford in Saturday’s late game.
Haaland converted Nathan Ake’s pass with a fine finish from just inside the area in the 27th minute, reaching his half-century of goals in the competition in record time in his 48th appearance.
But Pep Guardiola’s men went flat after that and Alexander-Arnold made them pay, drilling his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area before celebrating by putting a finger to his lips the City fans.
At St James’ Park, injury-hit Newcastle were stretched so thin that Eddie Howe had to name three goalkeepers among his substitutes.
But sixth-placed Newcastle ignored their fitness issues to bounce back from successive defeats against Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak fired home from Lewis Miley’s pass to open the scoring in the 13th minute.
Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling equalised with a superb free-kick 10 minutes later, but Jamaal Lascelles restored Newcastle’s advantage with a header on the hour.
And less than 60 seconds later, Joelinton punished Thiago Silva after the Chelsea defender mis-controlled Cole Palmer’s pass.
Chelsea right-back Reece James was sent off for a second booking in the 73rd minute and Newcastle rounded off their demolition 10 minutes later when Anthony Gordon slotted home.
It was the heaviest defeat of Pochettino’s first season in charge and the second successive game that Chelsea conceded four goals.
Fourth bottom Luton secured their first home league win this season as Crystal Palace were beaten 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.
Jacob Brown’s 83rd minute goal won it for Luton after Palace’s Michael Olise cancelled out Teden Mengi’s opener.
West Ham staged a dramatic fightback to steal a 2-1 win that added to rock bottom Burnley’s relegation fears.
Jay Rodriguez claimed his first goal this season with a 49th minute penalty, but Dara O’Shea’s 86th minute own goal put West Ham level before Tomas Soucek won it in stoppage time.
Brighton won for the first time in seven league games as Joao Pedro inspired a 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest
Anthony Elanga struck for Forest after three minutes, but Evan Ferguson hauled Brighton level in the 26th minute.
Pedro scored for Brighton in first-half stoppage-time and also converted a 58th minute penalty.
Brighton’s Lewis Dunk was dismissed after being booked twice for dissent in the space of 60 seconds in the 73rd minute, just prior to Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty for Forest.
Marcus Tavernier scored twice as Bournemouth won 3-1 at third-bottom Sheffield United.
Tavernier’s brace came either side of Justin Kluivert’s noteworthy strike, with Oliver McBurnie’s late reply no consolation for United.
Kluivert is only the third player — after Florin Raducioiu and Stevan Jovetic — to score in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.