Saliba hails 'confident' Arsenal star and details response that speaks volumes
William Saliba said Arsenal’s stars were delighted to see Aaron Ramsdale bounce back from his first-half howler - as the French defender praised match winner Kai Havertz.
Making a first appearance since November, with first-choice David Raya ineligible to face his parent club, Ramsdale’s hesitant clearance allowed Yoane Wissa to equalise. But he bounced back with impressive saves to deny Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins during an edgy second half - before Kai Havertz’s late winner.
And defensive marshall Saliba said: “Every player makes mistakes, last month I made two mistakes and my team-mates were with me. We are always together, we respond well – he responded well as well, he had three good saves and I am so happy for him.”
Saliba also believes the key to Havertz’s prolific run in front of goal is all down to belief. The £65m signing from Chelsea has scored in four straight league games, having found the net the same number of times in the previous 23 appearances.
“I'm so happy for him,” Saliba added. “He is a very, very good player and now he has the confidence and we are so happy to have him like that and we hope he will keep going.”
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Meanwhile, Vitaly Janelt believes Brentford are simply falling on the wrong side of the margins and the Bees midfielder felt their absence of fortune was summed up by Arsenal matchwinner Havertz still being on the pitch.
Aaron Ramsdale is consoled by Gabriel following his error against Brentford. (Getty Images)The Germany star had a penalty appeal rejected following a challenge by Nathan Collins. But Brentford felt it was a dive and Havertz, who was already on a booking, should have been dismissed.
“Right now, I don’t think momentum is with us,” Janelt said. “Everyone expected that Arsenal would win by three, four, five today because of their last results. But everyone knows how difficult it is to play against us either at home or away.
“They didn’t create many chances and, for me, it was a clear yellow and then red to Havertz. It was a clear dive for me. Then he scores the winner, but that’s football.”
Brentford have taken only seven points from the past 42 available. But they remain five clear of relegation and head coach Thomas Frank, who also described Havertz’s tumble as a “clear” second yellow, felt there were plenty of positives to take from their performance.
“The mentality, the effort, the shift, the personality this team is showing should make all the Brentford fans unbelievably proud,” Frank said. "How much they fought for the badge was incredible, against the in-form team in the Premier League.
“Everyone, rightly so, was praising Arsenal. They have scored however many goals in the last seven games and we kept them to a very, very, very minimum.”
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