Arsenal moved top of the Premier League table after netting a late winner to defeat Brentford 1-0 on Saturday evening.
Skipper Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus returned, but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale headlined the Gunners' changes after playing second fiddle to David Raya in recent times.
Ramsdale's return nearly turned into a nightmare when he lost possession in his own area and needed a goal-line clearance to deny Bryan Mbeumo who had seized the turnover.
Arsenal quickly escaped the slow start and asserted authority around the half-hour mark where a near post header by Gabriel Magalhaes hit the side-netting.
Brazilian Jesus followed up his compatriot's threat minutes later with a teasing attempt from an acute angle around the area, but Mark Flekken pushed over the top.
Jesus was in again where his looping header put Flekken in a spot of bother and had Leandro Trossard to turn in the rebound, but it was disallowed for offside as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) stepped in.
Arsenal looked to carry their strong end to the first half into the second, with Jesus, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka venturing in all phases of the defensive third in a quest to find a way in.
Jesus didn't finish the match following the closing exchanges and had manager Mikel Arteta take him off to bring on Eddie Nketiah in a like-for-like change.
The Bees looked to go ahead minutes to full-time with a searching header out at the far post from Neal Maupay following a cross, but Oleksandr Zinchenko cleared off the line.
Arsenal grabbed the winner with a minute to go when substitute Kai Havertz arrived unmarked at the back-post to head in off Flekken.
The German's effort were enough to see the Gunners over the line and on top of the table ahead of Manchester City.
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