Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1: Bukayo Saka scores again as Gunners top four hopes get huge boost in comfortable win

ONE-NIL to the Arsenal and another step towards a return to the Champions League.

Bukayo Saka’s first half strike was enough to seal the victory that gives Mikel Arteta’s side real breathing space in the race for a top four place.

But, for much of the match, this was a one-goal thrashing.

Arsenal had a vice-like grip on Aston Villa and gave them virtually nothing all afternoon until Steven Gerrard’s side threw everything at the Gunners’ goal in the latter stages.

But Gerrard may have to go back to the drawing board after this one.

With Aaron Ramsdale out injured, Bernd Leno returned for his first Premier League appearance since letting in five goals at Manchester City in August.

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Arsenal fans might have been concerned when they saw the German’s name on the team-sheet – but they need not have worried.

Leno only had ONE save to make with the last action of the game as he kept out a shot from the largely anonymous Phillippe Coutinho’s free-kick.

It was Villa’s only shot on target and it took over 90 minutes to come.

Villa did hit the post but that was courtesy of Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney who deflected an Ollie Watkins shot against the woodwork.

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The Gunners boss made it clear before the game that he was unhappy with the timing of this lunchtime kick-off – coming so close to Wednesday’s defeat at home to Liverpool.

Boss Arteta was animated throughout as if he wanted more from his dominant side.

But he need not have worried, his side had this game under control from the first minute as they returned to winning ways.

They now have a four point gap over Manchester United and a game in hand.

Ramsdale, who picked up a hip injury, will be assessed to see if he can join up with the England squad this week.

Gabriel Martinelli was also out with illness.

Arsenal looked to gain an early advantage by turning Villa around so that they were playing into a strong wind in the first half.

Travelling Gunners fans chanted “You’re just a s**t Aaron Ramsdale” at ex-Arsenal keeper Emi Martinez in the Villa goal.

Thomas Partey tested Martinez before the Villa goalkeeper had to be alert to stop Ezri Konsa scoring an own goal.

But Arsenal might have taken the lead after 18 minutes when Saka combined with Martin Odegaard to set up the recalled Emile Smith-Rowe but he could not get a clean connection in front of goal.

They did take the lead on the half hour though when Villa failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Saka on the edge of the area.

He threaded the ball through a crowd of players and, by the time Martinez had seen it, he could only help it into the net for Saka’s 10th goal of the season.

Martinez got a hand to it, but it was a soft goal for Villa to concede.

It meant Arsenal become the third side to score 2000 goals in the Premier League alongside Manchester United and Liverpool.

But the fact that Villa did not have a touch in the Gunners’ box before
Saka scored, tells you everything about how Arteta’s side had stifled their hosts.

The game turned bad tempered two minutes later when Villa skipper Tyrone Mings won the ball ahead of Saka but brought down the Arsenal forward with his follow through.

Ref Andy Madley booked Mings, even though the defender could not stop after taking the ball.

But – in the melee that followed – Villa’s John McGinn was also shown a yellow card.

Villa did not manage a shot on target before the break with their forward line seeing little of the ball.

Arsenal were running the show at this point with Partey pulling the strings.

But Villa looked a lot brighter after the break with the conditions in their favour – and McGinn curled a shot just wide from the edge of the area on the hour.

Arsenal remained a threat though and Saka went close three minutes later.

Suddenly, Villa looked like they wanted to make a match of it and Watkins had a shot deflected onto the post by Tierney.

Saka was subbed after 69 minutes to make way for Nicolas Pepe – with Villa sending on Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore as boss Steven Gerrard changed formation.

Traore was making his first appearance in six weeks – but Arsenal tried to slow the game down and keep Villa quiet again.

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Arsenal skipper Alex Lacazette was taken off by Arteta with 11 minutes left and the Gunners looked back in control again.

Gerrard decided to introduce Danny Ings with nine minutes to go as Watkins made way.

Ings almost made an immediate impact with a looping header that landed on top of the net.

But still Villa struggled to break through and, with the seconds ticking down, Martinez came up for Coutinho’s stoppage time free-kick.

The Brazilian tried to curl it into the top corner but Leno was equal to it.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk