Arsenal beat Aston Villa and go top of Premier League

Arsenal made two changes from the team that lost to Manchester City, White replaced Tomiyasu and Trossard replaced Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal started the game well, but went behind after five minutes. Aston Villa won the ball in their third and two passes later Ollie Watkins was one on one with Saliba. Watkins hit a low shot that his the back of the net. The early goal did not affect the team too much and created a chance in the 11th minute that Villa captain Mings intercepted and hit the cross bar. The goal would have been ruled offside had it gone into the net.

Arsenal equalised in the 15th minute with a fierce shot from just inside the Villa box. The pressure had been building on the Villa goal and the equaliser was deserved. A tackle on Saka by Villa captain Mings left the Arsenal player in some discomfort, but player was able to shake it off and continue. A strong challenge on White by Boubacar Kamara was not given as a foul, even though the boot was raised.

Aston Villa went back into the lead in the 32nd minute through Philippe Coutinho. It was a well worked goal and fully deserved. There were no clear cut chances created in the rest of the first half and the half ended with Arsenal behind 2-1.

Arsenal were out two to three minutes before the restart. The team had more of the ball in the opening minutes but did not create any chances. A chance fell to Odegaard five minutes into the second half, but rather than taking a shot he passed to Saka who’s shpt was high and wide. A corner to Arsenal a minute later fell to Saka who hit his shot wide. He went down after that, still fuffering from the effects on a tackle on him in the first half.

Arsenal slowly grew in confidence and a chance came for Eddie Nketiah, but his header hit the crossbar and went out of play. Arsenal equalised in the 60th minute with a brilliantly taken shot by Zinchenko. Arsenal had the chance to go ahead a minute later. Odegaard played a through pass to Nketiah. He was able to get to the ball before Konta, but his attempt went high over the Villa goal.

Arsenal made their first change in the 67th minute, replacing Trossard with Martinelli. Martinelli broke from a Villa corner and managed to carry to the Villa box but his through pass to Nketiah was overhit. A mistake by Konta gave the ball to Nketiah who passed the ball to Odegaard, but his shot was wide. A shot by Bailey forced a good save out of Ramsdale, who saved it onto the post.

With four minutes left, Jorginho made a through pass to Saka but his weak shot went straight to Martinez. Arsenal scored a third in the 3rd minute of added time. A hot by Jorginho hit the bar and then hit Villa goalkeeper Martinez and went into the net.

In the last minute of added time Villa had a corner and Villa keeper Martinez came for the corner. The corner was met by an Arsenal player and it fell to Fabio Vieira. He passed the ball to Martinelli who ran with the ball into an empty net.