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 0 - 0 Aston Villa
9 mins: Ezri Konsa gets very lucky. He’s caught on the ball by the high pressing Alexandre Lacazette. Both players get caught up in a tussle but Lacazette manages to squeeze the ball out to Aubameyang before they both fall over. Aubameyang shifts the ball over to the middle of the box and blasts it into the back of the net but the whistle has gone and referee Craig Pawson awards Villa a free kick for Lacazette’s roughhousing.
Arsenal 0 - 0 Aston Villa
6 mins: Arsenal have started quickly. Nuno Tavares gets forward on the left wing and shoots from a tight angle but doesn’t trouble the goalkeeper.
Aston Villa try to get a foothold in the game by sending the ball into Emi Buendia but he’s flattened by Partey in the middle of the pitch.
Arsenal 0 - 0 Aston Villa
3 mins: Great play from Arsenal. Thomas Partey threads a nice pass up the right hand side and plays Bukayo Saka in behind the lines. He lifts a cross over to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who attempts an overhead kick close to the back post but miscues it completely. The ball comes back to Saka who’s drifted into the box but his shot is pumped high and wide.
Arsenal 0 - 0 Aston Villa
Kick off: Arsenal get the ball rolling but lose possession on their right side. Villa send it up to Ollie Watkins who sends it out wide to Matt Targett. He chips the ball up towards the box and Watkins chases after it. Gabriel holds off the striker long enough for Aaron Ramsdale to scoop up the ball and Watkins responds by flinging Gabriel to the ground and picking up a yellow card.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Here come the teams. Arsenal put on a light show as the players prepare to head out onto the pitch. Arsenal are likely to start quickly and try to score their goals in the opening 20 minutes like they did against Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Arsenal have failed to score in each of their last seven league defeats. This is the first time the Gunners have had top-flight matches on Monday and then Friday in the same week since 28th December 1987 and New Year’s Day 1988.
Arsenal’s tally of seven goals is their lowest after eight league games since 1986.
Watkins vs Arsenal
Ollie Watkins scored three of Aston Villa’s four goals against Arsenal in the Premier League last season. Can he keep that run going tonight?
Martinez back at the Emirates
Emiliano Martinez returns to his former club this evening. He has kept 18 clean sheets in 45 Premier League appearances for Villa since signing from Arsenal in September 2020.
Aubameyang back in form
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in three consecutive home league appearances for the first time since a five-match run in September 2019.
His 42 goals at the Emirates Stadium is bettered only by Robin van Persie who scored 46 at the ground.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments