ARSENAL beat Aston Villa 3-1 tonight at the Emirates.
The Gunners went 1-0 up after 23 minutes thanks to a header from Thomas Partey, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled their lead from a penalty rebound.
Emile Smith Rowe added a third 10 minutes after half-time thanks to a fortunate deflection, but Jacob Ramsey pulled one back for Villa with a brilliant finish.
- RESULT: Arsenal 3-1 Aston Villa
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Lokonga, Partey, Saka, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang, Lacazette
- Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Tuanzebe, Mings, Cash, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Targett, Buendia, Ings, Watkins
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
Get Paddy Power £20 risk-free bet
GOODNIGHT
Goals, missed penalties, VAR drama, tactical mishaps, it’s been an exhausting evening and we’re only one game into the Premier League weekend.
It’s already a weekend though that Arsenal can tick off as a success. The Gunners put in their best performances of the season to blow a poor Aston Villa side away and earn a win that lifts them into the top half of the table.
For Dean Smith, it’s back to Villa Park, back to the drawing board, and – surely – back to a back four. The West Midlands club shouldn’t be hitting the panic button just yet but performances like this evening’s will not be tolerated for long.
That’s all from us for tonight, but we’ll be back bright and early tomorrow for coverage of Chelsea – Lukaku and Werner-less – against Norwich. Until then, thank you and goodbye.
ARSENAL COME ALIVE
A beaming Mikel Arteta heaped praise on his players for their performance this evening, particularly in the first half. Could this be a defining moment in their season?
I am really satisfied: the way we started the game, our tempo and urgency, how dominant we were, the quality we showed with the ball, the aggression we showed without the ball. We were alive! We really believed that we could do it against a good side, and we wanted to put aside the result of Monday.
Mikel Arteta
EMILE’S ALL SMILES
Emile Smith Rowe picked up the Sky Sports’ Man of the Match award after contributing a goal and an assist for the second time in three home games.
After the game, the midfielder expressed his joy that his efforts on the training pitch are paying off.
I’m definitely happy, not just with the finishing but also my set-pieces as well. I’ve been trying to work hard on my crossing because we haven’t got many right-footed set-piece takers. I’m happy it went to plan today.
Emile Smith Rowe
Credit: @Squawka Twitter
SMITH FRUSTRATION
A disappointed Dean Smith has admitted that he is at a loss to explain Aston Villa’s first half horror show, and also expressed his displeasure at the events leading up to Arsenal’s second goal before half-time.
It was a very poor first half. It was not recognisable as a Villa team we’ve come to know, we just didn’t play well enough. We were dominated physically and that’s unlike us. I had to change it at half-time. If we had got through that first half at 1-0, I would have fancied us. But at 2-0, it’s a hard ask.
The penalty was one of those lower-contact ones that we spoke about in the summer. I thought those were the ones we weren’t going to use VAR for. I’m even wondering why Aubameyang was allowed to put the rebound in. My understanding was that if the referee wasn’t called by VAR, we were walking off the pitch for half-time.
Dean Smith
NUNO IMPRESSES
Nuno Tavares came into the Arsenal side for a first Premier League start this evening, and did he chances of further appearances no harm whatsoever.
The Portuguese left-back was an electric presence on the flank, consistently stretching the Aston Villa defence and forming an excellent partnership with Emile Smith Rowe.
Credit: @Orbinho Twitter FULL TIME STATS
Aston Villa’s ten attempts all came in an improved second half, but they remained second best to Arsenal throughout.
FT: ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
Arsenal are comfortable winners at the Emirates despite a rally too little and too late from Aston Villa. Emile Smith Rowe’s deflected effort added to first half efforts from Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the visitors got going. A tremendous first Premier League goal from Jacob Ramsey offered Villa hope in the final stages, but the hosts held on for an impressive, morale-boosting win.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
ALL OVER AT THE EMIRATES!ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
90+3. Free-kick to Aston Villa just outside the box.
Leon Bailey went over to win the foul. Leon Bailey stands over the ball with intent. Leon Bailey curls over the crossbar to end Villa’s feint hopes.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
90. Four minutes of stoppage time are signalled by the fourth official.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
89. A half-chance for Ramsey to bag his second but he drags his shot across the face of goal.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
88. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes his leave. It’s been an eventual evening for the Arsenal captain. He’s missed a penalty, scored a goal and set-up Smith Rowe with a delightful assist.
On comes Gabriel Martinelli.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
86. Thumping challenge from Gabriel on McGinn, on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area.
The Scottish midfielder flies into the box, and there’s the momentary expectation of a penalty being awarded.
Craig Pawson is on the spot to quickly point it out as a clean challenge.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
85. I wouldn’t say that Villa are throwing everything at it quite yet, but there is an element of over-committing.
It’s presented Arsenal with a couple of opportunities to seal the game on the break, but they’ve failed to materialise.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
84. Another Villa booking, and this one is the daftest of the lot.
Displeased with one of Craig Pawson’s decision, Douglas Luiz picks up the ball and launches it into the turf and away in disgust.
It’s an act of petulance right under the referee’s nose, and the yellow card is immediately out.
ARSENAL 3-1 ASTON VILLA
82. Consolation or the start of an epic comeback? Well, it worked for Wolves.
Douglas Luiz bursts forward from midfield and finds Leon Bailey. The Jamaican international is eager in his endeavours even if his first touch is heavy.
However, Villa finally get some good fortune when the ball ricochets into the path of Jacob Ramsey, who unleashes a spectacular effort into the top right corner from just outside the penalty area.
What a way to score your first Premier League goal.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!
BRILLIANT STRIKE FROM JACOB RAMSEY!!ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA
80. Ten minutes remaining, and while Arsenal are cruising, everyone is casting their mind back to the North London derby.
The Gunners were in a similar position that day, but conceded against the run of play and eventually found themselves hanging on.
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA
78. Villa’s final substitution introduces Anwar El Ghazi to the action. Lucky Anwar.
The Dutch winger is on for Danny Ings.
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA
76. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is on for Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The departing Belgian has put in his best Arsenal performance tonight since arriving at the club.
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA
75. You have to feel for Emiliano Martinez this evening.
The Argentine stopper has performed well on his return to the Emirates, making some good saves including one from the penalty spot.
However, he’s been beaten three times, and is currently being serenaded by the stadium with chances of “Aaron Ramsdale, he’s better than you.”
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA73. By the way, Aubameyang was booked a few minutes ago for a foul on Douglas Luiz.
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA72. Martinez denies Aubameyang!
The hosts cut open Villa again on the break, eventually slipping Aubameyang in on the left.
The Arsenal captain lines up a right-footed curler, but it’s telegraphed by the visiting goalkeeper, who pushes away in eyecatching style.
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA70. Ramsdale picks out Sambi Lokonga with another sensational pass. It’s like having Xabi Alonso in goal.
ARSENAL 3-0 ASTON VILLA68. Villa make a change of their own, their second of the game.
On comes 20-year-old Jacob Ramsey for the incredibly disappointing Emiliano Buendia.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
