Arsenal stars were praised after they all embraced Aaron Ramsdale following the final whistle against Brentford.
Ramsdale got a rare start in Mikel Arteta's line-up and kept a clean sheet as the Gunners defeated the Bees 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium thanks to Kai Havertz's late winner.
The England international has been undergoing a difficult campaign as he lost his No1 spot to David Raya, who arrived on loan from Brentford in the summer.
However, Raya couldn't play against his parent club and so Ramsdale returned between the sticks.
The 25-year-old had some shaky moments in the early stages of the game, but grew in confidence and snuffed out some late danger.
After the final whistle, Arteta and every Arsenal star approached Ramsdale and embraced him in a brilliant show of team unity as he strives for more minutes ahead of Euro 2024.
Aaron Ramsdale had a first half to forget for Arsenal against Brentford.
The shotstopper's mistake nearly gifted the Gunners' opponents the opener - only for Declan Rice to save his blushes by clearing the ball off the line.
After the game, Arteta said on his keeper's first half: "This is football. I’m so happy with the team. The way the team performed with the clean sheet. We move on."
Today I got it [the goal] and it paid back, I am just happy I got it for the team.
"It was a brilliant goal and brilliant pass as well. I think we train this way as a team a lot, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard love to play those balls.
"It is hard work, nothing comes from itself and you have to work and have to believe. I tried to put my ego aside and the team is the important thing."
On the fans: "I am so thankful for these guys. It is hard when a new signing comes and they pay a lot of money for you. I am just thankful they keep supporting me."
It wasn't pretty, it wasn't convincing, but Arsenal managed to get the job done at the last and their reward could not be greater.
The 1-0 win means the Gunners will finish the day top of the Premier League table for the first time this season - and all because of a bizarre quirk of fate.
With the top two going into the weekend - Manchester City and Liverpool - drawing 1-1 this lunchtime, it is just the second time in Premier League history that the top two have met with neither managing to end the day at the summit.
The previous occurrence came in November 2015 when a 1-1 draw between Leicester and Manchester United allowed City to take over in first place.
Kai Havertz came off the bench to score a last-minute winner with what is just his second goal for Arsenal since his £65 million move from Chelsea.
It was also the German's second Premier League goal as a substitute, and both have proved to be match-winning efforts; the previous scored for his former club against West Ham in September 2022.
It feels amazing. I've been working hard for these moments and today I got it paid back. I'm just happy to help the team. Football is always hard work. It's been tough for me the last couple of months, but I've tried to put my ego aside because the team is the most important thing.
A late, late goal from super sub Kai Havertz has earned the Gunners the three points that takes them above Liverpool and Manchester City, and to the summit of English football.
It was far from a vintage Arsenal display, but Mikel Arteta's men stayed committed to the cause until the very end, and were rewarded with Havertz's second goal for the club.
Brentford will feel hard done by, having seen a goalbound effort cleared off the line in each half, but should again be pleased by a battling performance against the big boys with so many absentees.
90+1. Brentford restart the action after making two further substitutions.
Thomas Frank throws caution to the wind for the four minutes of stoppage time by introducing Zanka and Keane Lewis-Potter for Saman Ghoddos and Frank Onyeka.
With one minute remaining at the Gtech, the £65 million man pops up with the goal that could invigorate his Gunners career.
For the first time in the second half, Bukayo Saka made half a yard for himself on the right, and the curled over a beautiful cross towards the far post.
It still needed anticipation, bravery and precision to convert, and Havertz produced all of the above and more to nod low through Mark Flekken and into the net from a tight angle.
Arsenal are heading to the top of the Premier League and it's all thanks to Kai Havertz!
The ball ricochets kindly for Arsenal, and leaves them with a three-on-two break.
Nketiah takes charge as he approaches the penalty area, but then opts against passing right to the unmarked Saka and instead places a low weak effort at Flekken.
