Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Emirates Stadium
Arsenal maintain their perfect start after beating Aston Villa in a fiery clash at the Emirates Stadium. As the Gunners make it five from five, the question is not how long they can keep this up but how long Steven Gerrard can keep his job.
Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow has invested a lot of trust and club money into his former Liverpool star’s project, and he is likely to get games after Saturday’s daunting home game against Manchester City, but the wonder is whether they will all be overtaken by events. Or, rather, defeats.
Here, at a buoyant Arsenal stadium, it was as if Villa were almost powerless to stop Mikel Arteta’s effervescent side claiming 2-1 win. There was barely a challenge for Gabriel Martinelli’s winning goal. Gerrard’s approach, in stark contrast to Arsenal’s run, seems unsustainable.
So, while Villa look to the weekend with trepidation, Arsenal look to it with hope. They have positive momentum, confidence and an edge, all of which form the ideal mentality to be going to Manchester United in search of the sort of victory that would really serve as a statement.
Relive the action from Arsenal’s victory over Aston Villa:
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
SAVE! Cash and Buendia work in tandem down the right flank. The full-back makes a probing run into the box before finding Buendia, but his effort rolls into the hands of Ramsdale.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Arsenal are all over the visitors at the moment. Villa are having to defend deep and pray that the hosts keep spurning their chances in front of goal.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
WHAT A MISS! Saka has to score. Xhaka leads the Gunners forward and feeds Martinelli down the left flank. He lifts a cross to the back post for Saka to attack with the goal gaping, but he lifts his first-time effort over the bar.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Lokonga tries to lift a ball behind the Villa defence down the right flank for White, but Digne does well to win possession and clear the danger.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Martinelli sends Tierney down the left flank on the charge. He angles a cross into the box towards Saka, but Mings rises highest in the penalty area to clear.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
SCRAMBLE! Arsenal somehow are not ahead. Odegaard sends Jesus down the inside-right channel and he ousts Konsa off the ball to turn a low drive towards goal. Martinez makes the save, but Konsa fails to clear allowing Odegaard to pounce. The Gunners captain is denied twice by desperate blocks from Konsa then Mings in the six-yard box. Great defending from the visitors.
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