Aston Villa vs Arsenal result: Five things we learned as misfiring Gunners beaten again

Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: Ollie Watkins' early strike proved the difference at Villa Park

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Aston Villa scored early and frustrated Arsenal to earn a 1-0 win in the Premier League on Saturday.

There were only couple a couple of minutes on the clock when the first goal arrived, Bertrand Traore latching onto a short pass from Cedric Soares to set up an Ollie Watkins finish. Granit Xhaka had a free-kick well-saved around the half-hour mark, before Traore almost doubled Villa's lead with a brilliant turn and flicked shot.

Nicolas Pepe had the last chance of the first half but rifled off-target, then did the same again at the start of the second. Emile Smith Rowe almost dribbled his way into the box to score, only for Tyrone Mings to make a good tackle, while Ross Barkley also had a decent opening but couldn't control his shot.

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The Gunners continued to press for an equaliser as the game wore on but it was Villa who went close twice, Jack Grealish and Watkins both shooting low on the angle from the left, but failing to find the back of the net. Martin Odegaard missed Arsenal's best late chance to leave them without a win in three. Here are five things we learned from the game at Villa Park.

Partnerships

Arsenal's defence needed to be altered once more here, with David Luiz suspended following his red card against Wolves. He was replaced by Gabriel Magalhaes, the Brazilian who was supposed to be a key component of Mikel Arteta's rebuild, but who has been unable to become a regular starter so far.

His consistency has wavered, he has suffered with one or two enforced absences and Rob Holding has been the go-to instead - so pairing them up here resulted in the disjointed display which might be expected, without real organisation in defensive phases and lacking the type of cohesion and understanding that Villa's defence has - especially with the first-choice goalkeeper also missing.

That's where the importance of partnerships are visible.

Tyone Mings and Ezri Konsa have forged a formidable understanding together, knowing where and when will challenge and cover, passing on attackers to each other and filling in for their full-backs when needed.

They are the foundations of Aston Villa's improvement this season and both put in key interventions in defence here.

Creative English outlets

It's inevitable that, as the Euros gets closer, more of the focus from the national media will be on which players might be in-form enough to play a part for Gareth Southgate.

Here there were a number of attacking options on show which are either on the fringes of the squad or well outside the current reckoning.

Ross Barkley, for example, won't be getting any closer to a recall with his current form; it's fine, hard-working, a couple of big moments in attack but certainly nothing to suggest he can leapfrog half-a-dozen players.

Emile Smith Rowe still looks a real talent, but also still in flashes - with more game time and understanding will come an ability to impact matches on a more regular basis.

Jack Grealish was always involved and often excellent, Bukayo Saka likewise for the Gunners. As the saying goes, they're 'on the plane'.

Ollie Watkins celebrates with Jack Grealish (Reuters)

Villa's underrated core

Of course there are stand-outs in any team who get the headlines and Grealish is among those for Villa.

But there are a key group of regular starters who are so incredibly consistent, and of course extremely good, that they play an equal part in the impressive nature of the team.

At the back, the aforementioned Konsa is one. Mings is the England international, but Konsa absolutely should be - particularly with Joe Gomez injured. He has the speed, as well as the bravery and defensive talent, to fill that particular void.

In the same line, left-back Matt Targett has been superb of late, consistent with his defensive work and ever-growing in confidence on the ball.

And midfielder John McGinn is an indefatigable figure, a non-stop dynamo of ball-winning and breaking the lines in possession. His passing range is brilliant and he's a real team-first performer.

Arsenal GK question

It's an ongoing theme, and an obvious question when Aston Villa are the opponents: did they make the right call in selling Emi Martinez and keeping Bernd Leno? The evidence of 2020/21 says no.

The German wasn't even involved here, suspended, so Mat Ryan was involved - and conceded within seconds on his debut. The Australian made a couple of decent saves thereafter, but the impressive performance at the other end was more notable.

Martinez is safe in his handling, very good with his mid-range distribution and extremely powerful with his upper-body, making him a difficult opponent to beat with high balls into the area or when coming through a crowded box.

Table talk

Villa up to eighth - just a one spot jump, but back into the clutch of teams looking capable of earning European football for next season.

Of course, they still have a game in hand on some of those above them, too, but consistency in victories will be key to them achieving this objective.

For the Gunners, it's another match where the attack has misfired and left them mid-table, three games without a win now and with a tough run coming up: Leeds, Benfica, Man City and Leicester.

A transition this year is the only way to describe what has been a desperately disappointing season for the Gunners.