Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the latest updates from the Emirates as 12th-place Arsenal host 13th-place Aston Villa in the opening game of the Premier League weekend
Arsenal are hosting Aston Villa this evening at the Emirates as the Gunners looks to carry forwards the momentum from Monday’s last-gasp equaliser against Crystal Palace. Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to pinch a 2-2 draw, and although it was far from the Gunners’ best performance, there were positives to take as Mikel Arteta’s team extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games, having lost all of their opening three.
Villa have endured the opposite trend with back-to-back defeats, including a dramatic late goal which saw Wolves complete a thrilling comeback to win 3-2 against their West Midlands rivals. It means Dean Smith’s side are now 13th coming into this fixture, one place and one point behind Arsenal in the Premier League table.
The build-up to the game saw Arteta asked about his young midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who Aston Villa enquired about in the summer. “Any club has the right to make an inquiry about a player when they believe they have the financial power to get him, they’re entitled to,” Arteta said on Friday. “So there was a communication between the clubs and we made it really clear that Emile wasn’t for sale. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do and our future. He’s really happy where he is and I’m delighted to have him.”
Follow all the action from the Emirates below, live.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa
42 mins: Villa manage to beat the Arsenal press and work the ball through midfield up to Buendia. He carries it over to the right of the penalty area and whips in a cross but it’s too close to Ramsdale who plucks the ball out of the air.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa
39 mins: Partey finds Aubameyang just outside the Villa box but he’s put under pressure by Konsa. Saka tries to provide an option by making a run into the box and Aubameyang slips the ball towards him but Mings sticks out a foot and pokes it back to Martinez who boots it clear.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa
36 mins: Nuno Tavares has impressed on his full debut for Arsenal. He’s freely swept up the pitch to help out in attack and finds himself inside of Smith Rowe on the edge of the box. Smith Rowe gives him the ball and he fires it straight at goal but Martinez gets behind the shot and keeps it out.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa
33 mins: McGinn goes in the book as well now for a heavy tackle on Lokonga. Arsenal curl the free kick into the far side of the box where Matty Cash almost makes a mess of his clearance as he falls over trying the head it clear. Luckily the ball bounces back to the goalkeeper who safely smothers it.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa
30 mins: What a save! Arsenal should be two goals up! Smith Rowe wins the ball in his own half and drives it into the midfield on the counter-attack. Tavares flies down the left side and is given the ball. He squares it into the box towards Saka who is free on the right and Saka takes a first time shot. Martinez dives to his left and somehow manages to keep the ball out with his trailing leg! Great save!
Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa
26 mins: Mings arrives late with a challenge on Lacazette and knocks the Arsenal forward to the floor. He’s shown a yellow card from the referee. The game has had a few of these bitty tackles. It’s a good contest.
GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 Aston Villa (Partey, 23’)⚽️
23 mins: Arsenal take the lead! The Gunners win a corner and Smith Rowe swings it into the middle of the box . Partey leaves his marker John McGinn, runs in front of Mings, leaps and glances the ball towards goal. Martinez gets a hand to the shot but can’t keep it out and Arsenal start the celebrations.
Arsenal 0 - 0 Aston Villa
18 mins: Saka takes on Mings out wide on the right wing. Mings comes across to stop the run inside and clumsily gives away a foul.
Off the woodwork!
Saka curls the free kick into the box and it’s not cleared by Villa. The ball drops to Partey who hooks it towards goal and rattles it into the crossbar!
Arsenal 0 - 0 Aston Villa
15 mins: Smith Rowe drives inside from the left wing and gives the ball to Lacazette. He lays it off to Takehiro Tomiyasu who belts one from range but leans back on the shot and sends it sailing over the crossbar.
Arsenal 0 - 0 Aston Villa
12 mins: Saka puts a bad corner ball into the box but Arsenal get lucky when Danny Ings’s clearance comes out to Emile Smith Rowe. He shoots from range but has his effort blocked on the edge of the box.
Lacazette and Tyrone Mings both go up for an aerial ball and Mings gives the striker a little elbow to the face as he heads it away and escapes punishment.
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