Arsenal earned an important 2-0 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park this evening, banishing the ghosts of their defeat there last season.
Villa made sure Arsenal did not get off to a strong start. Although the Gunners dominated most of the opening 25 minutes, it was the Villans who could have taken the lead in what was a stop-start beginning.
It was a cagey and closely contested first half between both teams, with Arsenal struggling to capitalise on their superior possession.
The Gunners were eager to attack, but whenever they pushed forward, Villa broke quickly and nearly scored, with Ollie Watkins’ shocking miss being the only reason Arsenal didn’t concede early.
Morgan Rodgers was the player who caused the Gunners the most problems, as his direct running in midfield, combined with Leon Bailey’s threat, troubled William Saliba and Thomas Partey, and even earned Declan Rice a booking as both sides went into half-time with nothing to separate them.
Aston Villa continued to be resilient in the second half, but Arsenal showed their experience and held off their hosts, even though they were fortunate not to go behind at least once.
David Raya pulled off a world-class save to deny Watkins and it can be argued that was the turning point in the game.
Villa soon paid for their missed chances when Leandro Trossard scored the opener.
Despite a flurry of substitutions by Villa, Arsenal remained in control and sealed the victory with a second goal from Thomas Partey, with Trossard involved once again.
Villa tested them, but Arsenal’s defence—particularly Saliba—was superb, and their performance merited the clean sheet.
It’s yet another away win for the Gunners in 2024, and they remain unbeaten on the road in the league this year.
Raya, Saliba, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz and Trossard stood out in the match
The team showed a title contender’s mentality by punishing Aston Villa at their own turf, although Aston Villa were pretty lame
@Gai,well done to the boys 4 goals in two matches and 2 clean sheets. It’s obvious the Boys seem more determined. They are also learning well The Art Of Winning Epl.😁
I think DRice is worth adding to the aforementioned names, Timber also limited Baley effect. But he couldn’t invert like Zichenko.
I am happy we have good bench for different opposition.
I think zinchenko would also have struggled to make a big impact from the inverted midfield position today. I think timber was important in getting the win for his energy and provided a bit more defensive stability than zinchenko tends to.
Timber should improve his positioning skills to receive the through balls from our GK and CBs
That is his first competitive game for Arsenal this season you should cut him some slack. It’s Havertz I think wasn’t special in yesterday game.
@Sylva
Yes it was his first game andyou are 100percent, and I doubt if this is anything due to his lacking this sort of skill, except you are trying to scandalise the situation. It’s basic training practice thing, his level is beyond this reproach, goodness sake, was he not from Ajax, common!
There has got to be comm btw the keeper and player if he is wanted in a particular location on the field.
Where do I start?! Villa should have scored 2 or 3 times. That Rodgers chap ran our midfield ragged, charging through as he pleases. Still, I thought Partey had a great game overall. Gabriel and Saliba are a UNIT! 3 points are just amazing and seeing Emi Martinez’ hopeless face has done it for me, that tw@t 😆
I think Partey was surprised with Rogers’ strength. We may have created an emiliano monster both on and off the pitch. I can’t stand him either. I just loved that flop he did on the corner. Way to be taken in again Oliver.
Great win. I am very happy David Raya is showing why he is Arsenal’s number 1 now. 2 games, 2 clean sheets. Let’s get Merino over the line and get a versatile forward in as well. It’s going to be a great season. COYG.
Happy to see Partey get on the score sheet this early in what is term the final phase of the gaffer’s project.
It’s paramount for Arsenal to have the world class player firing from all cylinder as quickly as possible as it’s in these big games the Ghanaian international likes to dip his bread.
This is a huge three points if you ask me, not many teams will leave Villa Park with a result, a ground even the champions have grown to show respect in recent times.
“This is a huge three points” – 100%. Glad these specific points are on the board and we don’t have to worry about this fixture again this season. Hopefully this will remove the growing feeling that they are our bogey team.
Good on them, though. Emery’s made them very competitive.
Thomas Partey’s having a Vardy.😀
5 star performance from our defence and especially Raya. Our attack was toothless until we grew a pair and started advancing more on the right-side. Our best finisher came on for a slightly improved Martinelli and shifted the game into our favour, probably on his first touch in the game.
Timber deserves a shout for his diagonal forward passes but our attackers seem unfamiliar with them. This will come good soon. New signing Cal looked strong and good for duels.
It was a solid contest and credit to Villa’s Rodgers who certainly caught my eye.
Arsenal is getting better and better and we have become a fantastic team. COYG
It was a tricky and hard fought game
There were times that Arsenal were lucky to have a clean sheet as Villa looked to be on the front foot and I thought we were under the cosh.
However, it was all about timing and Trossard stepped up (as usual) and that put the inevitable pressure on Villa to score
Watkins should have scored but Raya made a superb save that reminded me of Ramsdale at his best.
I wouldn’t call it a lucky win, but Villa failed to finish
COYG
Sue if you think about it, the reverse was true last season- we played well enough to win both games against them but couldn’t finish. Trossard missed an open goal last time. It was kind of poetic that he won us the game this time.
Couldn’t agree more!
Actually, I think it was his 4th or 5th step before he put it past Martinez, lol. What a confidence building first two games of the season for Raya (and me). He has those super saves in him now – what a wonderful thing.
No Thomas no Partey.
As he said when we signed him.
Love the guy
Raya, once again, proving why he’s No. 1
Our defence, knowing that villa would create chances, were excellent. Timber and Califiori will improve.
Partey took his goal superbly and I wonder if certain posters will mention his first two performances as a reason to sell him!! 😂😂
Trossard, also once again, proved what a great sub he is to bring on and change the game – his goal was sublimely taken.
A great all round performance and sweet revenge for our missed opportunities from last season.
Any negatives? Rogers allowed to steam roller through our midfield – Martinelli not prominent enough – referee allowing to many fouls on Saka going unpunished without a card – Odegaard surprisingly quite.
Brilliant three away points, let’s keep it going. COYG
OT So pleased for ESR.
Well said Ken1945. The season is back and still no Jon fox. I hope he is okay.
He was banned I believe
Shame because he was a character
Wow, I don’t know that. Thanks Sue.
Didn’t know that.
I feel harvetz was kind of quiet today
Raya, Saliba, Saka, Havertz, Trossard, Partey and Timber were fantastic, especially the last 2, but Rice was dissappointing again.
These players stood out Raya, Saliba, Saka, Havertz, Trossard, Partey and Timber were fantastic, especially the last 2, but Rice was dissappointing again.
Great boys and great winning.
COYG
Gotta really give Saka great credit for getting to that ball from Odegaard to cut it back before it went over the end line. That kind of effort wins games.
Bring back Jon Fox he has been in the freezer long enough. 😉
Having just watched MOTD and our win, did anyone notice Trossard’s behaviour when Partey scored his goal?
He seemed to be the only Arsenal player who didn’t seem elated with it… unless I’m wrong in it not being him on the far left of villas area?
What with the muted celebration for his own goal and then this, am I seeing a little bit of petulance? If it is that, I don’t think MA will be too happy!!
I don’t think there is much in it Ken. To me he’s always had a similar demeanor and been unusually low-key. I’m sure he isn’t real pleased with not starting but the Sky sports guys were trying their best to get him to say something negative or something he shouldn’t and they failed. I just hope his son’s (and Arsenal’s) sake that his dad stays mum.
Love the dad staying mum remark BB and I guess I must be reading to much into the situation, as no one else has commented on it – excellent three points though!! 👍
He actually celebrated Partey’s goal by lifting up his hands as soon as the ball went in.
@BB
Great assessment, and I am not sure I have seen him smiled before really.
Truly it would be weird if a starter was bought to be just a supersub, that means in three seasons his career will be in trouble
It is abundantly clear the Belgian international is not happy, it was for that reason he ended up at Arsenal, but he now has stake his claim as there nothing more clinical than a player scoring with his first touch.
Surely he has to start on the return of his old stomping ground
I noticed it Ken when he walked of the pitch.He didn’t seem happy at all.
Thank goodness John, I thought I was imagining things.
As dir lifting his hands up, SJ, that was about it.
Good 3 points. Not a brilliant display and rather fortunate. Trossard proving again that, it is strange how he keeps getting overlooked with a struggling Martinelli. Is our manager blind? The performance today was secondary. The point the most important.
Arteta needs to be sure he’s balancing things and making sure Trosaard knows he’s important and wanted
But we saw how he integrated Kai and now our team is a lil stronger, having a good starter with Jesus still on the bench
I support doing that also with Martinelli,
If Trosaard starts and Martinelli keeps sitting – he’ll continue rusting – then our bench will not look as impactful
Let’s get Martinelli up to speed so we know we have an efficient starter and still another good player on the bench
Well said.
When was Martinelli last good performance though ? Rust isn’t a full season and two games.
So are you saying, Liam, that Martinelli didn’t have one good game last season?
think you make a very strong point and it is the job of Arteta to keep his players on side especially if there are two players for the left wing position, in this instance. The season has barely started and there is plenty of time for Trossard to displace Martinelli, who hasn’t been at his best.
Hasn’t it been said before that Trossard has been a fantastic impact player? Arteta has been ruthless when he needs to be and if Martinelli continues in his current vein, I am sure MA will act.
What you state may be true but can we afford to go with only 10 men playing decently for much of the season as we did last season with Havertz until MA moved him to the #9? Maybe, maybe not.
On to the next one 🎯
A happy gooner tonight 🙌
COYG 💪
Good job done by the boys…stand out performance;Raya, Saliba&Gabriel, Partey,Rice,Saka and Trousard. The rest put in their shift and did fairly well. Well done to the team.
This defense of ours is really something remarkable. And Saka is turning into a different beast.
How good was Calafiori cameo? He looked like a regular starter who played with us last season as well. It was a few minutes, but I think it was very revealing.
Bukayo is so talented yet what impresses me more than his Arjen Robben like shots is his extreme effort on the pitch. As he proved again yesterday, if there’s a ball even with only a remote chance of being gotten to, he’ll kill himself to get to it when other players would let it go. What a truly great player he is.
Is this not the first time we have beaten Martinez/Emery ever since these two left us?
No, we beat them upper season at their grown 4 – 2. Jorginho and Martinelli scoring the winning goal.
Arteta likes to use Martinelli to tire out the defender and bring in Trousad to finish them and score. The reverse of starting Trousad first has not work well.
For WHO???? Definitely not for Trossard. Per minute played, he is our most productive player in the team. Martinelli is producing zilch.
The result was better than our performance and let’s be honest,Watkins missed two gilt edged chances which would have changed the game. A number of our players looked rusty including Gabriel and Rice who was unable to support Partey in stifling the impressive Rogers, but Raya and Saliba were outstanding in my opinion.Villa are a strong side who I expect to finish in the top six so any win at their place is commendable.Trossard is probably our best finisher and it will be interesting to see how Arteta reacts to his impressive cameo when viewed against another innocuous display from Martinelli.