Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Leandro Trossard inspires Gunners to win

Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal: Trossard came off the bench to score before Thomas Partey added a second

(REUTERS)

Arsenal secured a fine win against Aston Villa away from home after an instant impact from substitute Leandro Trossard who broke the deadlock before getting involved in the build-up to Thomas Partey’s goal.

The teams played out a frustrating first half at Villa Park that was beset with stoppages and breaks of play that favoured the home side and stopped Mikel Arteta’s men finding any rhythm. The Gunners dominated the early stages and Bukayo Saka was denied by Emi Martinez touching his shot wide of the far post.

Villa created two huge opportunities and both came to Ollie Watkins. The first saw him turn the ball wide after Morgan Rogers picks him out in the box and the second saw the striker’s headed effort palmed away by a scrambling David Raya in what could have been the moment of the game.

Trossard was then brought on and arrived at the right time to turn a loose ball home from inside the box. He then drove Arsenal up the pitch and found Saka at the far post. Saka rolled a pass back to Partey whose shot from range beat Martinez to give the Gunners a cushion.

Arsenal take the points and continue their winning runs.

Relive the action from today’s Premier League encounter below:

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

• Arsenal pass Aston Villa test and prove why they’re Manchester City’s main title rivals
• Aston Villa beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League
• 77’ GOAL! - Partey’s shot from range doubles Arsenal’s lead (AVL 0-2 ARS)
• 67’ GOAL! - Trossard comes off the bench and scores (AVL 0-1 ARS)
• 54’ SAVE! - Raya denies Watkins after Onana hits crossbar (AVL 0-0 ARS)
• 39’ CLOSE! - Havertz turns Martinelli’s pass wide of the target (AVL 0-0 ARS)
• 24’ MISS! - Huge moment for Watkins but he hooks a shot wide (AVL 0-0 ARS)
• 15’ SAVE! - Martinez tips Saka’s shot wide of goal (AVL 0-0 ARS)

[24 August 2024 17:42 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

6 mins: Saka brings the ball down the wing and flicks a pass inside to Martin Odegaard. Odegaard’s fancy footwork sees him skip to the edge of the box before looking for Kai Havertz and Declan Rice making runs into the left side.

Matty Cash intercepts and sends the ball forward to Morgan Rogers. Rogers tries to spin around the nearest defender but loses the ball and the attempted counter-attack breaks down.

[24 August 2024 17:39 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

3 mins: Villa’s formation seems fluid between a 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 with Leon Bailey doing the work of running between the lines depending on when and how forceful Villa want to press.

Arsenal attempt to pass the ball through midfield with an inward stepping Timber slotting one over to the right wing. Bukayo Saka is the target but Lucas Digne intercepts and takes over.

[24 August 2024 17:36 · Mike Jones]

Kick off! Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

Aston Villa, finally, get the ball rolling at Villa Park. They work it back to Emi Martinez who sweeps a long ball over to the right side of the pitch.

Jurrien Timber gets his first involvement by clearing the ball away but Villa recover possession and look forward again.

[24 August 2024 17:30 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

There’s a slight delay as the communications between the referee and the fourth officials were down. The players now leave the tunnel and head out onto the pitch.

This is another fascinating match-up which could go either way. Aston Villa have the home advantage and could spring a surprise on the Gunners.

Kick off is up next...

[24 August 2024 17:25 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

With both of these two teams finishing inside the top four last season this is an early clash of teams wanting to be top of the table. Both earned opening day victories last week and will want to keep that momentum going.

It’s Villa’s first home game of the year, can they earn a win against the Gunners?

[24 August 2024 17:20 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Unai Emery has lost only one of his seven matches as a manager versus Arsenal in all competitions, Villa’s 4-2 Premier League home defeat in February 2023 when the Gunners scored twice in stoppage time.

[24 August 2024 17:15 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Morgan Rogers has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances at Villa Park.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[24 August 2024 17:10 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Kai Havertz has an unrivalled 17 Premier League goal involvements since mid-February, with 10 goals and seven assists in 15 appearances.

The German is yet to score or set up a goal in seven games against Aston Villa, the most he has faced an opponent without doing so.

[24 August 2024 17:05 · Mike Jones]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Ollie Watkins has gone six Premier League appearances without a goal since he scored in a 2-0 win at Arsenal on 14 April. He has five career league goals against the Gunners.

(David Davies/PA Wire)

[24 August 2024 17:00 · Mike Jones]

It doesn’t matter that it’s early – Arsenal face major test in a title fight of tiny margins

Both of these managers have done very good jobs, both of these clubs have made sizeable strides. One of them is nonetheless likely about to get criticised and told they need to do more in the next week or risk missing out on their objectives. And it almost doesn’t matter which coach it’s aimed at.

Such is the relentless, never-stand-still nature of the Premier League and the focus point of most outsider commentators, who see transfer necessities in draws and trophy pushes in victories, even two weeks into the season.