Avoiding what was a possible banana pores and skin on Saturday night, Arsenal collected an eye catching 2-0 victory away at Aston Villa.
Seeking to make it back-to-back Premier League victories within the Midlands, Mikel Arteta’s camp have been annoyed for big spells as England worldwide Ollie Watkins missed a pair of golden alternatives on both aspect of the half-time break.
Nevertheless, simply seconds after coming off the bench halfway by way of the second-half, Leandro Trossard opened the scoring due to a sensible end previous ex-Arsenal shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez.
The Gunners rapidly doubled their benefit simply 10 minutes after Trossard’s opener as Ghana worldwide Thomas Partey swept dwelling from the sting of the field.
Making it consecutive Premier League victories and overcoming an Aston Villa squad which have a well-known Champions League journey on the horizon, we now have taken a take a look at the principle speaking factors from the Midlands.
The Gunners lay down an early marker
Finally falling quick final season as they missed out on the prospect to get their palms on a primary Premier League crown since 2004, Arsenal are determined to go one-step additional this time round.
Signing off the 2023/24 marketing campaign within the midst of an prolonged flurry, Arteta’s younger squad seem to have solely continued from the place they left off again in Might.
Getting proceedings underway with a routine show on the Emirates as they collected a 2-0 victory at dwelling in opposition to Wolves, the Gunners have actually come flying out of the traps.
Overcoming what was at all times going to be a possible banana pores and skin on Saturday night and leaving the Midlands with what was an actual scalp, Arsenal are rightfully regarded to as soon as once more be Manchester Metropolis’s fundamental title foe this season.
Protecting tempo with the defending Premier League champions and nonetheless trying to stay lively through the remaining week of the summer season switch window, Arteta’s males must be discover the temper of their camp at a continued excessive.
Defensive metal that spine of Arsenal’s success
Whereas many across the Emirates may need been annoyed this summer season as Arsenal failed so as to add a brand new quantity 9 to their ranks, Arteta will probably be vastly excited by his aspect’s defensive metal.
Though Watkins ought to have bagged Villa no less than a comfort strike on Saturday night, the Gunners have continued to realize a popularity for the continued performances on the again.
Watching Spanish shot-stopper David Raya produce a pair of sensational stops on both aspect of the half-time break, Arsenal are but to concede a single aim from any of their opening two Premier League appearances.
Likewise, conceding simply 29 targets of their 38 Premier League appearances final season and holding one of the best defensive report amongst England’s elite, Arsenal seem to have continued on from the place they left off again in Might.
In truth, leaving the Midlands unscathed and with most factors right here, Arteta’s aspect have additionally recorded 9 clear sheets of their earlier 10 away fixtures persevering with on from final season.
Villa will probably be ruing missed alternatives
Making actual historical past final season as they secured a well-known Champions League ticket, Unai Emery’s males have rightfully obtained a string of plaudits on both aspect of the summer season interval.
Nevertheless, whereas the one-time Arsenal boss may need seen his aspect open the 2024/25 marketing campaign with a 2-1 victory away at European dreamers West Ham, Saturday’s hosts will probably be ruing a missed alternative right here.
Accumulating a sensational 2-0 win once they travelled to north London again on April 14th and handing Arsenal’s title ambitions a vital blow, the Villains have been looking for a repeat efficiency this weekend.
Watching Watkins miss a pair of golden probabilities on both aspect of the half-time break, Villa will merely be trying to mud themselves down rapidly and declare a right away response subsequent weekend.
With their sights firmly set on mounting one other real top-four cost this time round, Emery’s males will journey to Premier League returners Leicester subsequent week smelling the prospect to assert a right away response.
Match Report
Aston Villa: Martinez, Money, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGuinn, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Barkley, Duran, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Ramsey
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Trossard, Nelson, Calafiori
Targets: Trossard (67’), Partey (77’)
Yellow Playing cards: Aston Villa: Onana – Arsenal: Rice, Odegaard, Gabriel
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Michael Oliver
